Golf: Golfers flock to tee up at East Lothian

Dunbar was one of the first venues to get playing again on Saturday, with the West Links at North Berwick and the three Gullane courses all being back in business as well the following day.

"We could have opened on Friday but decided to give the greenkeeper another day," said Dunbar secretary John Archibald. "We were jam-packed on both Saturday and Sunday, there wasn't a time to be had. We don't take visitors at the weekends but there were a lot of members' guests out on the course.

"That was more evident than any other weekend I can remember. On one of the days, for instance, there were lots of people I recognised from Duddingston out on the course."

Along the coast at Gullane, members had been told the courses would be shut until Monday at the earliest but the thaw set in quicker than expected.

"On Friday, we left a voice message saying the three courses would definitely be closed until Monday," said club secretary/manager Stephen Anthony. "However, I was absolutely amazed when I woke up on Saturday morning and looked out and saw grass.

"We opened on Sunday, all three courses with full tees and full greens. We dropped members an e-mail on Saturday and a few turned up for a game."

Gullane had been closed since November 27 and now Anthony is keeping his fingers crossed that the courses can remain open over the Festive period, something that wasn't possible last year due to a similar cold snap.

"There are still snow clumps where snow has been piled up," he added. "Hopefully it doesn't come back as bad again as it has such a huge effect on everything."

At North Berwick, lessons are being learned from the problems caused for golf clubs a year ago. "It is a case of keeping an eye on the weather and planning accordingly," said the club's managing secretary, Chris Spencer. "For instance, we've got a winter menu on in the clubhouse this year, so the caterer doesn't have to throw out as much food if people can't get to the club."