The Genesis Scottish Open is back at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, bringing together top players from both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. It’s a key warm-up before The Open Championship, but the real challenge might come from the weather. In 2023, strong winds and heavy rain turned the tournament on its head. Gusts went over 40 mph, more than 10 mm of rain fell, and severely affected Rounds 2 and 4, and Round 3 even had to start early to avoid storms. So, as the Genesis Scottish Open gets set to take place from July 10 to 13 this year, will the weather take control once again?

Thursday, July 10

The opening round of the tournament will start on a cloudy note. As the day progresses, the weather will become partly sunny and then windy. Winds of up to 25-30 mph are expected. The temperature could reach up to 20°C, but the golfers teeing it up in the morning will probably have to face rain. The afternoon pairing will have to keep a check on their ball speed so that the wind does not impact their play too much.

Friday, July 11

The morning will be partly sunny, but as the day progresses, the conditions are expected to get windy. The wind will blow from the west at 8 – 15mph, and the temperature will range from 18°C to 21°C.

Saturday, July 12

Sunday, July 13

On the final day, the golfers will be playing in mostly sunny conditions. Wind would not be that big of a problem, as it would be blowing at 12 – 18mph. The temperature will range from 13°C to 24°C. Players like Rory McIlroy have reflected on the resilience needed to battle the tricky weather conditions Scotland has to offer. “I just have to embrace the conditions and sort of make the best of them,” McIlroy added back in 2023.

The weather will play a decisive role in the exposed fields of the Renaissance Club. Strong winds can alter expected swings into unpredictable challenges. Rain can also affect the course, softening it and punishing the roll on fairways. Even though calmer conditions are most preferred for tees, constant fluctuations in the climatic conditions can demand rapid strategic shifts. Hence, more stable weather can significantly improve the play, which is promising this year. Yet, one can’t let their guard completely down, considering the sport of golf is never safe from the elements of nature.

2025 Genesis Scottish Open Course:

Designer: Tom Doak
Type of course: Modern links
Used since: 2019
Fairways: Wide
Rough: Thick in places
Greens: Fescue
Par 5’s: 3rd,10th and 16th.
Premium on: Approach play/Links ability

The Genesis Scottish Open demands grit and a positive attitude

Links golf, played in the natural landscape, is shaped by wind, terrain, and unpredictability. Constant changing weather conditions and undulating gusts mold new strategies. It ensures strategic, critical thinking over a pre-planned game plan. That’s what defines a champion. The grit required for such a challenging game is hard to come by, yet perfectly summed up by Tommy Fleetwood back in 2020.

In 2020, Fleetwood told Golf Digest in an interview about his thoughts on the poor weather conditions. His attitude was one to applaud. “I loved every minute of it,” the Englishman said, embracing the punishing conditions that disrupted the rhythm of many in the field. “It’s golf isn’t it? I’ll play in that every day. I’m really happy and the birdie on 18 left me feeling really good. I was grinding all day. But an occasional look at the leader board helped. I saw everyone was doing the same. It was a day when three pars moved you up. And every birdie was like gold dust.”

For Fleetwood, the soaking rain and swirling gusts weren’t a hindrance but rather the charm of golf. This is the kind of attitude Scotland Greens expect! As the 2025 edition approaches, with a spot for The Open at stake, players and organizers remain cautiously optimistic. Now, it remains only up to the Scottish skies to turn the narrative around.