A Journal for the Thrifty Gowfer
Edinburgh
Kirknewton, Edinburgh
Plate II — Parkland course — tree-lined fairways, year-round play
Edinburgh's main resort golf hotel. Hosted the Solheim Cup (1992).
From the Notebook
Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club sits in a Georgian country house 7 miles west of Edinburgh city centre, with two 18-hole golf courses in its 1,000-acre grounds — the East Course (championship) and the West Course (shorter). The East Course hosted the 1992 Solheim Cup — the defining credential — and remains the most significant resort course within easy reach of Edinburgh.
The East Course is a James Braid design from 1927, par 73, around 6,600 yards. The layout uses the gentle Kirknewton parkland with mature oaks and the Water of Leith as strategic elements; the 14th, played across water to a peninsula green, is the photographed hole. Conditioning is resort-standard — reliably good throughout the year, which reflects the hotel's investment in the facilities.
Visitor green fee is £65–95 for non-hotel guests; hotel guests receive discounts. For visitors planning a golf-and-accommodation combination within Edinburgh, Dalmahoy is the efficient answer — significantly cheaper than Edinburgh city centre hotels, ten minutes from the airport, and with two golf courses on site that most day visitors to Edinburgh would have to drive elsewhere to access.
The West Course (par 68, around 5,200 yards) is ideal for golfers who want a shorter or gentler round than the East, or for playing with family members of mixed ability. The hotel's spa and leisure facilities provide the non-golf component for mixed groups.
The Full Scorecard
Plan This Round
Where to Stay
Hotels, lodges and self-catering near the first tee. Map-style search via Stay22 covering Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb and Vrbo.
How to Get There
Edinburgh (EDI) is 25 minutes away by car. Train + onward taxi works for the carless visitor.
Insure Your Round
Most home contents policies don't cover golf clubs in transit. The picker matches you to the right kind of cover in two minutes.
Played here? Consider
Course-tuned recommendations, not generic gear lists.
Outerwear
The mid-weight option for parkland — fully waterproof but lighter than the wind-spec links jackets. Packs into a back-pocket pouch when the sun comes out.
Layer
Scotland's premium sportswear name. Cut for a swing rather than a jog; the moisture-wicking suits warmer parkland rounds where the wind isn't doing the work.
Tech
Tree-lined parkland holes are exactly the situation where a rangefinder pays for itself. The V6's slope mode is allowed in any non-tournament round.
★ The Sunday Post ★
One short Scottish-golf email every Sunday. No sales pitch.
The Sunday Post
One email, most Sundays. No sales pitch.
Stays Nearby
Hotels, B&Bs and self-catering within easy reach of Kirknewton. Tap any property to check rates.
Rates and availability via Stay22. We may earn a small commission if you book — at no extra cost to you. How affiliate links work.
Frequently Asked
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