It goes with without saying Gil Hanse is increasingly stamping his presence as one of the leaders in golf course design work and with his name again appearing in golfing headlines with news he’s been retained by Scotland’s North Berwick course.

There is below and with thanks to Golf Course Architecture website details of Gil’s future work at North Berwick.

I was first was introduced to Gil soon after he had completed his maiden 18-hole project, the Craighead Links course at Crail in Scotland and becoming a second course at Crail Golfing Society, golf’s seventh oldest club and formed in 1786.

While the Crail club was founded some 240-years ago, the present Crail golfing location along the shoreline some 12 miles east of St. Andrews has been in play for 130 years, and since 1895 when Old Tom Morris completed his initial design of the Balcomie Links.

Balcomie remains the strong favourite among the increasing number of visitors to the East Neuk of Fife region of Scotland while the newer Craighead Links is stamping its stature as a ‘must play’ lay-out and this being helped by the yearly hosting of the Battle Trophy along with the 1998 staging of the Scottish Men’s Amateur, the 2017 Scottish Boys and Girls and last year the hosting of a Monday qualifying round for LPGA and LET members seeking secure a place into the Women’s British Open later that August week at St. Andrews.

Gil Hanse overlooking the Castle Stuart course outside of Inverness in Scotland – Both photographs – www.golfbytourmiss.com 

I joined Crail at the turn of the new millennium and would always enjoy, and thanks to then club pro Graeme Lennie meeting-up will Gil when he continued to visit Crail in those early ‘settling’ years of the Craighead Links. Indeed, Gil had chose to reside in Crail for a good period of time during the construction of the Craighead layout.

There was one such occasion in meeting Gil, and I would think around the early 2000s when he was visiting Crail but also was also planning to travel well north of Crail  to Inverness and Gil’s co-designed Castle Stuart.  As I had the ‘wheels’, Gil and I headed off north up the A9 and destination the Castle Stuart course that Gil co-designed with the late Mark Parsinen, who tragically died in suddenly in 2019 from a massive stroke.

I recall our drive as we simply chatted and chatted all the way, so much I missed the turn-off to the course and had to back track over the Kessock Bridge and then onto Castle Stuart. (See photos above of Gil looking out over the Castle Stuart course)

For me, Castle Stuart was always a popular destination in those years as it proudly hosted the Scottish Open for three years running 2011 to 2013.  There was the chance to attend media outings on the course while immediately on the opposite side of the river was the Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Club, a course with a history dating back to 1793 and redesigned in 1932 by the famed James Braid

What made the Fortrose visit extra special that for each year of the Scottish Open, Fortrose Secretary Mike MacDonald and members of the club hosted the accredited Scottish Open media to a Wednesday afternoon Ryder Cup theme outing and followed by dinner in the clubhouse.

It was one of those:  “You don’t want to miss it” occasions and still grateful to Mike.

Though I should ‘come clean’, as in our 2013 outing I will not forget spraying my tee shot well right off the 17th tee and just missing a play heading up the second fairway.  The player in question was the now late former First Minister of Scotland – Sir Alex Salmond.

Gil Hanse to prioritise sustainability

with renovation of West Links at North Berwick

“The West Links is one of the most consequential golf courses in the history of golf course architecture,” said Hanse.

“It has provided guidance and inspiration to nearly every person who has ever racticed 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 honour the traditions of the links, and prepare it for the future with respect to the game and the environment.”

From left, Martyn Huish, head of golf at North Berwick, Gil Hanse, course manager Kyle Cruickshank and general manager Stuart Bayne (Image: The North Berwick Golf Club)

Stuart Bayne, General Manager at North Berwick, said: “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”.

The famous Gate sixteenth hole at North Berwick. Hanse describes the West Links as ‘one of the most consequential golf courses in the history of golf course architecture’ (Image: GCA)

Hanse was selected after what the club describes as “a rigorous selection process, including on-course evaluations and consultations with leading architects” and his team will work closely with course manager Kyle Cruickshank, with additional input from a select group of members.

Professional golfer Catriona Matthew, who won the Women’s British Open in 2009 and was twice a Solheim Cup captain, is an honorary life member of the club, and said: “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 US 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.”

A key priority of the work will be addressing the challenges of coastal erosion (Image: GCA)