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Birdie Brae

A Journal for the Thrifty Gowfer

Edinburgh

Silverknowes Golf Course

Edinburgh

Plate IIParkland course — tree-lined fairways, year-round play

Holes
18
Par
71
Type
Parkland
Edinburgh
Walkability
★★★★☆
Walkable for most
Best Season
May–Sep
Year-round
Visitor Access
Open
Mid-week ideal

Flat coastal parkland on the Firth of Forth. Edinburgh's best-positioned municipal.

From the Notebook

Silverknowes Golf Course sits on the Firth of Forth shore in north Edinburgh, a flat coastal parkland with views across the water to Fife that improve the feeling of any round regardless of whether the golf cooperates. It is one of six Edinburgh Leisure municipal courses and among the better-maintained — the proximity to Silverknowes Promenade gives it a setting that other city municipals don't share. Par 71, around 6,200 yards.

The coastal position means wind is a factor more often than players from the city expect. The Forth Estuary is wide at Silverknowes; a westerly off the water plays directly into sections of the back nine, and the hole-by-hole wind variation that open-ground courses produce requires more attention than the card implies. The course is flat — no significant elevation, no heather, no natural drama — but the sea exposure gives it a character that purely inland city parkland lacks.

Green fee is £22–£27.50. Edinburgh Leisure courses can be booked online up to seven days ahead; walk-in is usually available on weekdays. No handicap required. Walk from Silverknowes Promenade or bus from the city centre. The Cramond area — Roman fort, causeway walk to Cramond Island — is ten minutes along the shore and a natural post-round destination.

Among Edinburgh Leisure's six courses, Silverknowes stands out for conditioning quality and setting. Braid Hills No. 1 offers more terrain interest and better hilltop views; Silverknowes offers the Forth as a constant companion, easier walking, and better on-site facilities. The two represent the full range of Edinburgh municipal golf: exposed moorland ridge versus flat coastal meadow.

The Full Scorecard

Everything else you might want to know.

Course

Designer
Contact club
Founded
Contact club
Style era
Contact club
Yardage (W)
Contact club
Yardage (Y)
Contact club
Yardage (R)
Contact club
Course rating
Contact club
Slope rating
Contact club
Bunkers
Contact club
Greens
Contact club
Walking time
Contact club
Open season
Year-round

Visitor

Dress code
Smart casual, collared shirts
Spikes
Soft only
Booking
Contact club
Twilight
Contact club
Winter rate
Contact club
Senior
Contact club
Junior
Contact club
Buggy
Not available
Trolley
Contact club
Caddie
Contact club

Practical

Address
Edinburgh, EH4 5ET
Phone
0131 336 3843
Nearest train
Edinburgh Waverley
Nearest airport
Edinburgh (EDI) (25 min)
Parking
Free
Wi-Fi
Yes, clubhouse
Card payment
Yes
Membership
Contact club
Joining fee
Contact club
Waiting list
Contact club

Fields marked “Contact club” aren’t public-facing in a way we’ve been able to verify. Call the club directly for these — we’ll update the entry when we have it from source.

Conditions This Week

What's the weather doing?

Fetching conditions…

Scored 0–10 for golf — wind, rain, conditions · Full 7-region forecast →

Location

Silverknowes Golf Course on the map

Edinburgh · EH4 5ETOpen in OpenStreetMap →

While They Golf

For the non-golfer in the party.

Edinburgh isn't only for the golfers. Walks, drives, distilleries, castles, a long lunch — five picks within thirty minutes of the first tee.

The Edinburgh companion guide →

Plan This Round

Three things to sort before you tee off.

Played here? Consider

Three things worth packing.

Picked for parkland rounds in Scotland.

Outerwear

Galvin Green Aldous jacket

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

Castore performance polo

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

Bushnell Tour V6 rangefinder

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.

Stays Nearby

Where to stay near Edinburgh

Hotels, B&Bs and self-catering within easy reach of Edinburgh. 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

Visitors usually want to know.

Can visitors play at weekends?
Visitors are welcome but mid-week is markedly easier and quieter. Confirm a weekend tee time as far ahead as you can — popular Saturdays book up first.
How early can I book a tee time?
Phone or email the pro shop to confirm. Most Scottish clubs accept visitor bookings 7–30 days ahead; group bookings of 8+ can be arranged further ahead.
Is there a dress code?
Smart casual, collared shirts. Soft only.
Are buggies allowed?
Buggies are not generally available — the course is walked. Hire a trolley at the pro shop if you'd rather not carry.
What's the best time of year to play?
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep for full conditions. Late May and early Sep are quietest with fair value. Year-round.

The Sunday Post

A good round, a fair fee, and a story from the clubhouse.

One email, most Sundays. No affiliate spam, no drip funnel, no nonsense. Just the tee time we'd book this week, the muni we'd play before work, and one piece of Scottish golf history worth the read.

Written by someone who actually plays here.

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