Every summer, East Lothian enjoys something money simply can’t buy.
For four days, the Genesis Scottish Open places North Berwick, Gullane and the surrounding coastline in front of a global television audience. The world’s best golfers arrive, international media descends, and millions of viewers see exactly why this corner of Scotland has become one of the country’s most desirable places to live.
But the tournament isn’t just raising East Lothian’s sporting profile. Increasingly, it’s reinforcing its position as one of Scotland’s strongest premium property markets.
Recent analysis by property data consultancy HomeBench compared high-value property transactions in East Lothian’s golf hotspots with Scotland’s traditional “Home of Golf” around St Andrews. The results were striking.
Ninety-one properties worth more than £500,000 changed hands in North Berwick, Gullane and Archerfield during 2025, compared with 68 across St Andrews, Elie and Earlsferry. The momentum has continued into 2026, with 39 premium sales recorded in East Lothian compared with 33 in the St Andrews area.
That represents a significant shift.
For generations, St Andrews has been regarded as Scotland’s premier golf property market. Yet buyers are increasingly looking further south, attracted by East Lothian’s unique combination of world-class golf, stunning coastline, outstanding schools, vibrant communities and, crucially, its proximity to Edinburgh.
For many purchasers, this isn’t simply about buying a home near great golf.
It’s about buying a lifestyle.
The ability to walk beaches in the morning, play championship golf in the afternoon, commute easily into the capital when required and enjoy excellent restaurants, independent shops and thriving local communities has become an increasingly compelling proposition. Flexible working has only accelerated that trend.
Major sporting events amplify that appeal.
The Genesis Scottish Open has evolved into one of the flagship events on both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour calendars, attracting the world’s biggest names and extensive international television coverage year after year. Every aerial shot of East Lothian’s coastline showcases the region to millions of viewers worldwide, introducing prospective buyers to a destination they may never previously have considered.
Of course, property values are never driven by a single event. Interest rates, supply, economic confidence and local demand remain the fundamentals of any housing market.
However, desirability matters.
Places that consistently capture international attention tend to enjoy stronger long-term demand, particularly where supply remains constrained. East Lothian has benefited from exactly that dynamic over the past decade.
For existing homeowners, that’s encouraging evidence of the area’s enduring appeal.
For prospective buyers, it reinforces something we see every day at Simpson & Marwick: exceptional homes in exceptional locations continue to attract exceptional interest.
Sometimes it takes an international sporting event to remind the rest of the world what those of us who live and work here have known all along.
