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Monday 24th November 2025 - A Historic Collaboration to Polish and Protect the West Links:

Gil Hanse Appointed Retained Course Architect

North Berwick West Links is delighted to announce the appointment of Gil Hanse, one of the world’s leading golf course architects, as its retained Course Architect, sharing a vision to “polish and protect” the world-famous links.

This partnership brings together two globally respected names in golf. Gil Hanse is renowned for restoring some of the game’s most historically significant courses, including U.S. Open venues Oakmont, Merion, and Los Angeles Country Club, and consulting for iconic destinations such as Seminole and Sunningdale. His acclaimed design portfolio also includes The Olympic Course in Rio de Janeiro, Ohoopee Match Club, Castle Stuart, and CapRock Ranch.

The first phase of this collaboration, beginning in 2026, will see Gil develop a Master Plan for the West Links, preserving its heritage while preparing for the future. The plan will focus on restoring key features, maintaining the course’s unique character, and prioritising sustainability.

Stuart Bayne, General Manager at The North Berwick Golf Club, commented:

“We are delighted to welcome Gil Hanse. His unparalleled expertise and deep respect for tradition make him the perfect partner to preserve and elevate one of the world’s most historic and iconic courses, recently ranked 25th among the top 100 courses globally.”

The Master Plan will identify ways to polish the West Links to be the best version of itself, ensuring continuity year on year through minor refinements. While significant changes are not anticipated, a key priority will be addressing the challenges of coastal erosion. This includes implementing robust contingency measures alongside our existing engineering projects to mitigate future risks from the advancing sea”.

Importantly, this will be a collaborative effort. Gil and his team will work closely with Course Manager Kyle Cruickshank and engage with a select group of members to ensure the plan reflects their insights while honouring the course’s rich history.

The appointment follows a rigorous selection process, including on-course evaluations and consultations with leading architects.

North Berwick West Links is proud to take this important step in safeguarding its legacy while embracing the future. With Gil Hanse’s expertise guiding the way, all West Links clubs reaffirm their commitment to preserving the character and integrity of one of golf’s most iconic courses for generations to come.

Quotes:

“We are delighted and honored to have been selected to provide architectural guidance in the form of a master plan for the North Berwick West Links. The West Links is one of the most consequential golf courses in the history of golf course architecture.  It has provided guidance and inspiration to nearly every person who has ever practiced our craft. We are excited to learn as much as possible about the roots of the course, and use this research to inform our recommendations for the master plan.  We appreciate the trust that the stewards of the links have put in us to create a plan that will honor the traditions of the links, and prepare it for the future with respect to the game and the environment.”

Gil Hanse, Retained Course Architect, North Berwick West Links

“I’m excited to learn that Gil Hanse has been appointed as consultant architect for North Berwick West Links. Having played numerous courses designed and restored by Gil, from the completely new design in Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympics to the renovation of Waverley Country Club for the U.S. Senior Women’s Open, and the thoughtful long-term enhancement plans at Sunningdale, I have no doubt he will bring the vision and expertise needed to guide North Berwick. His approach ensures a cohesive, long-term strategy to polish and refine our course, delivering continuity and a collaborative plan for many years to come.”

Catriona Matthew OBE, Honorary Life Member, The North Berwick Golf Club

“I’m thrilled that our cherished West Links will be associated with one of the world’s leading architects. Gil’s reputation for thoughtful, skilful design, always respecting the historical significance of golf courses, makes this collaboration truly exciting.”

Martyn Huish, Head of Golf and Head PGA Professional, North Berwick West Links 

Left to right: Martyn Huish (Head of Golf and Head PGA Professional), Gil Hanse (Retained Course Architect), Kyle Cruickshank (Course Manager) and Stuart Bayne (General Manager)

Wednesday 19th November 2025 - 25th in the World!

I am delighted to share some exciting news: today, our West Links has been announced as 25th in the Top 100 Courses in the World.

This is the highest position we have ever achieved, and I, together with the entire team, am immensely proud and honoured to play our part at this moment in the Club’s long and distinguished history.

Surrounded by legendary names such as Augusta National, The Old Course, and Pine Valley, this truly global list affirms our status as an iconic, internationally renowned club that every member can be proud to call home.

Please click on the image below to view the full rankings.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our dedicated team and our committees for their hard work and commitment, which have been instrumental in helping us achieve this status. As we always say, there is still much to do, ensuring that we present the course in the best possible condition, consistently throughout the year.

This momentum continues with the recent announcement of Gil Hanse as our retained course architect starting in 2026. Gil’s brief is to polish and protect the West Links for generations to come, ensuring we deliver the best possible version of the course while planning for future challenges such as sea advancement.

Once again, I hope you share in the pride of today’s announcement as much as I do. The hard work continues, and together we will keep striving to deliver a truly first-class experience for our Members and guests from around the world.

Best wishes, Stuart

Stuart Bayne, General Manager