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Scotland is famous for its centuries-old golf courses, but the Scottish Open is being hosted at one of Alba’s modern wonders from 2019.
The Renaissance Club’s 18 holes are the work of acclaimed American course designer Tom Doak.
Located on East Lothian’s Archerfield Estate, near Muirfield, the course opened in 2008.
It was a project to build a course outside the forest, where architect Jerry Sarvadi revealed more than 8,500 tons of wood were removed from the site.
The result is 18 beautiful holes carved out of some 300 acres of pine forest, with a number of preserved trees dominating the course to accommodate any True Links situation.
If you’re hoping the trees provide a breather, you’ll probably be disappointed as they’re more of a threat to players than any kind of help.
In 2013, the owners acquired the land from the Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers in exchange and used the property to build three new holes, all along the coast.
The result of that renovation saw the original three-hole opening down to the old 18-hole layout. These holes are still under repair and are used for practice at the club. A further change saw the former holes 12 and 13 combined to form the current 12th hole and a new par three was added as the 15th to the course layout.
The new holes from 9 to 11 are important to the club and its appeal to players, connecting the course to the coast like never before and undoubtedly enhancing the Renaissance playing experience.
That stretch of coast is the crowning glory of the Renaissance Club round.
It is bookended by three holes, and this small stretch, along with the 8th hole that precedes it, can be considered the main feature of the course.
The fourth stage of the 10th was a wonderful addition to the Renaissance. Its incredibly tight fairway ribbon and terrifically sloping greens perched firmly on the edge of the cliffs, high above the Firth of Forth give this hole both great challenge and visual spectacle.
In 2017, the Renaissance Club hosted the 25th edition of the Scottish Senior Open, which was won by Paul Broadhurst.
Since 2019, the Renaissance Club has been the designated venue for the Scottish Open, a stop on both the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour and an important event before The Open in the program.
The club played the Scottish Open for the first time in 2019 when Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger took the title after beating Frenchman Benjamin Hebert in a play-off.
Wiesberger and Hebert finished at 22 under, the lowest score in tournament history at the time.
England’s Aaron Rai beat compatriot Tommy Fleetwood in the first play-off to win the 2020 title after both men finished on 11 under.
At the 2021 Scottish Open, Australia’s Min Woo Lee won a three-man play-off to claim his second European Tour title.
The 2022 Scottish Open was the poorest scoring event since he moved to the club with Xander Schauffele winning with a seven-under 273 in his four rounds.
In 2023 the venue played host to a major win by Rory McIlroy that ended any hopes of a major challenge at the Open for the Ulsterman.
Although the club has a private membership, guests can stay on the Estate and play the course but it is not the most budget friendly place given the location.
A one-off round will set you back between £300-£450 depending on when you get on the schedule.
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