Dalmahoy East

Dalmahoy East is a short golf blog post about the forgotten giant of modern golf that hosted the first European-staged Solheim Cup.

Set against the backdrop of the Pentland Hills, the East Course at Dalmahoy—"The Beast"—is one of Scotland’s most famous inland championship venues.
Located just seven miles outside Edinburgh, the estate pairs rich golfing history with modern, tour-standard practice and clubhouse facilities.

History & Pedigree:

The East Course was designed in 1927 by the five-time Open champion James Braid.

Set within 1,000 acres of historic, mature estate parkland, the layout was crafted to test the finest players.
It uses natural elevation changes, grand oak and pine corridors, and strategic bunker placements.

In 2005, the layout underwent a significant facelift to extend its length, rework green complexes, and update bunkering to meet modern championship demands.

Dalmahoy has hosted several historic events:

• The Inaugural Solheim Cup (1990):
  Dalmahoy held the very first Solheim Cup, where the United States team defeated Europe 11.5 to 4.5.
• European Tour / DP World Tour:
  The course served as the venue for the Scottish PGA Championship and the Scottish Open during the 1970s and 1980s.
  Hosting legendary figures including Severiano Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, and Sam Torrance.
• European Seniors Tour: It continues to be a featured venue on senior professional circuits.

Course Layout & Playability

• Par: 73 (Gents) / 75 (Ladies)
• Yardage: ~7,334 yards from the back tees (~6,956 yards off the whites / ~6,684 yards off the yellows)
• Terrain: Rolling parkland featuring wide fairways, mature tree-lined hazards, and subtle greens.

While the fairways offer huge landing areas, long approach shots, well-placed hazards, and deep Braid-style bunkers require strategy and distance control.

Signature Holes

Hole 10 – "The Beast"

• Par 5 | ~485–500 yards
• Overview: The signature hole that gives the course its nickname.
  Playing steadily uphill away from the 1700s Baronial manor house, it rewards a strong drive across the fairway, but the approach forces a critical decision.
  Long hitters can reach in two, but anything short or offline is swallowed by deep bunkers protecting an elevated, sloping green.

Hole 17

• Par 3 | 188 yards
• Overview: A crucial late-round test. This mid-to-long par 3 requires a precise tee shot into a heavily guarded green protected by five deep bunkers.
  Finding the putting surface is a requirement—a miss anywhere off target leaves a difficult up-and-down.

Hole 18

• Par 4/5 | ~436 yards
• Overview: A dramatic finishing hole framed by views of the country house hotel.
  A strong tee shot sets up a long-iron approach over water and fairway traps to a multi-tiered green right in front of the clubhouse patio.

Visitor Facilities

Dalmahoy offers a full resort experience for visiting golfers, societies, and corporate days.

Practice & Instruction Facilities

• Driving Range: A 12-bay, floodlit driving range with both covered heated bays and open-air grass tees for year-round practice.
• Short Game Area: Includes a dedicated chipping green and practice greenside bunker.
• Putting Greens: A 9-hole putting green near the first tee designed to mimic the speed and contouring of the course greens.
• Pitch & Putt: A 9-hole short-game pitch-and-putt course.
• Golf Academy: On-site PGA professionals offering private coaching, custom fitting, and video analysis.

Clubhouse & Amenities

• The Brasserie & James Braid Bar: Full food and beverage service with outdoor seating overlooking the 18th green.
• Pro Shop: A fully stocked pro shop offering equipment, apparel, club rentals, electric trollies, and GPS-equipped golf buggies (carts).
• Locker Rooms: Visitor changing rooms with secure lockers and luxury shower amenities.
• Hotel & Spa Access: Visitors can pair golf with the 4-star hotel, which features a leisure club, indoor swimming pool, gym, and tennis courts.

This is a fantastic golf course to start a Scotland Tour for visiting golfers.
Contact Premier Golf for further details on Dalmahoy.

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