Gullane

Home Scottish Links Golf The Basics AFSD - how to determine the real length of a golf course Helpful Websites Platinum Page Upscale golfing products & services Aberdeen & Grampian Highlands Royal Aberdeen, Cruden Bay... Ayrshire Royal Troon, Turnberry, Prestwick... Scotland's Golf Coast Castle Park Craigielaw Dunbar Gifford Glen Gullane Haddington Kilspindie Longniddry Luffness New Muirfield Musselburgh Musselburgh Links North Berwick Royal Musselburgh Whitekirk Winterfield Northern Highlands Royal Dornoch, Brora, Nairn... St. Andrews area Other golf courses Machrihanish, Pitlochry... LINKS LITE... Great links golf for the not-so-great golfer Special Gullane Suggestion For The Non-golfer Gullane is a perfect walking town, with a pretty village green, some interesting shops, and eye-filling views. Walk up the Gullane #1 golf course to the top of the hill and you'll be rewarded with a breathtaking panorama that stretches for many, many miles. The Firth of Forth with its ships and ever-changing scene will be in the foreground, and the Kingdom of Fife (home of St. Andrews and those other great golf courses) is just across the water. The public can walk along these golf courses, but do be sure to stay out of the way of the golfers and golfballs, and remain still while a golfer is teeing off or putting. Benches (that's my favorite in the photo above) await you at the top of the hill, and you can sit undisturbed for as long as you like, imbibing the beauty and the serenity of the scene. Twelve golf courses (all excellent) can be seen from the top of the hill. From here you can follow the coastal path in either direction, or you can come back down the hill into the town by retracing your way along the golf course or by taking the street on your left leading off the golf course near the large houses at the summit. Once you are back in the centre of town you can have a cup of tea in one of the little eateries here. I'm making special mention of this walking suggestion for Gullane, because otherwise you'd have no way of knowing how exhilerating this view is--I feel quite sure you'll agree once you see it. This is a leisurely walk, by the way, quite short and not very strenuous if you want to take your time.

Gullane Golf Club © 2006, Richard & Mary-Alice Jafolla GULLANE -- As easy as #1, #2, #3 Golf has been played at the Gullane links since at least 1650 when "the Weavers of Aberlady played the Weavers of Dirleton," although the club itself, Gullane Golf Club, was established "only" in 1882. Three golf courses actually make up Gullane Golf. They are apply named Gullane #1, Gullane #2, and Gullane #3 and they accommodate any level of skill. Gullane #1 is the championship course and the most testing. Unlike the typical links layout, Gullane has plenty of hills. This makes for breathtaking views and very interesting and challenging golf. Here is a shot of the 2nd fairway of Gullland #1, taken from the 1st fairway. GULLANE #1 Gullane #1 is by far the most famous of the three courses. Don't let the lack of imagination in its name lull you into thinking this is an unimaginative course. It's not. It's a high-quality, first-class, champiponship links course, and the equal of just about any course you will play. It has been used for the final qualifying rounds for the Open Championship in five different years. In addition, it has played host to such prestigious tournaments as the Ladies Open Championship (won, incidently, in 1947 by "Babe" Zaharias), the Scottish Amateur Championship, the Scottish Professional Championship, the Amateur International, the Scottish Ladies Championship, and numerous others. It also hosted the final qualifying round for the Open Championship when it was held at nearby Muirfield in 2002, and in 2004 hosted the Scottish Ladies Amateur Open. View from the 1st tee. Take advantage of this relatively easy opening hole. It's only 302 yards, so keeping it straight is more important than knocking it long. Your round begins next to the Pro Shop, the Golf Museum, a 12th Century Church and, by the way, the village main street! Quite unique, don't you think? The first hole is Gullane's gift to you--a 302 yard par 4 with "only" six bukners to contend with. Keep your drive straight and you won't have any trouble. A 3 wood off the tee is not a bad choice. Your drive soon takes you away from any distractions and you can concentrate on your round. And concentrate you must. This is a real championship course and a good test for even the most skilled golfer. The 2nd hole is only 379 yards, but as you can see it's all uphill and it's easy to leave your second shot short. And if the wind is blowing right at you, "it will take you three shots to get there in two." You start your climb early The 4th looks as if it will give you a break because it's a short-144 yards-par 3. But there are two large and fierce-looking bunkers directly in front of a green which sits on a high plateau. You must not only hit this large green, you must hold it. If you don't, you are faced with a delicate chip back up to the green. After the 4th, you begin a gentle climb that starts with the top rated hole--the par 4 number 5--and what a challenge it is. First of all, it's 450 yards from the back tees (426 from the medals). That's tough enough for a par 4. Add to this that it's all uphill and a severe dogleft left. Slicer's beware. You'll be adding considerable yardage to this hole if you slice your drive. Again, the uphill second shot leaves many approach shots short. This is as difficult a hole as you will face all day. Note the severe dogleg and the uphill all-the-way on #5. The green itself is relatively flat, but getting there in two is the challenge. Pray the wind is at your back. More uphill, this time from the 6th tee, a relatively easy 324 yard par 4. A nice break after the gruelling 5th. One of the best views in all of golf Eventually you will arrive at one of the most famous views in golf--the 7th tee at Gullane Hill. The 7th green lies 398 yards away but many feet below you on this severe downhill hole, giving you a chance to hit a huge drive since it will roll and roll down the hill. But keep it straight because there are 10 hungry bunkers on this hole, including one each on your left and right at 181 yards, another bunker 241 yards away on your left and yet another 268 yards away on your right. Plus there are two at 318 just about in the middle to snare those very long hitters who have the wind at their backs. It's a good idea to rememer the sixth commandment on this tee: Thou shalt not kill (golfballs). Just hit it straight and let gravity give you your length. What you see is what you get. Note the many bunkers evident from the 7th tee. All the more reason for a straight tee shot. Across the bay (the Firth of Forth) is the Kingdom of Fife, home of St. Andrews and the other world-class golf courses. Here's a view looking backwards from the 7th tee. That golf course you can see a few miles away is the great Muirfield golf links. Here's a view to your right on the 7th tee on Gullane #1. On a clear day it's heavenly. When it's raining and windy, hold on to your hat!. Don't get greedy As you make the turn you are faced with three monster holes. From the medal tees they are #10, a 466 yard par 4; #11, a 471 yard par 4 (although it's steeply down hill all the way); and #12, a 480 yard par 5. Be satisfied with a score of only 15 on these three holes. The 17th takes you steeply down another hill, your last chance to hit a big drive because the bunkers on this hole are over 300 yards away and the fairway is quite wide. If you're not scoring well to this point, why not just let it rip! Gullane #1 is not an "out and back" course like so many links courses. It is laid out more like a cloverleaf, so the devilish wind is an ever-present and ever-changing consideration. All in all, it's quite a golf course and one I highly recommend you play. After playing it a few times I can see why it is held in such esteem. If you get a chance, Gullane #1 is a definite play. Golf Nook Scotland rating for Gullane #1-- an EAGLE. Gullane #1 - Scorecard # Hole Name Medal F'wrd Par SI Ladies Par 1 First 302 287 4 14 280 4 2 Windygate 379 334 4 4 328 4 3 Racecourse 496 497 5 8 471 5 4 Island 144 134 3 18 127 3 5 Murrays Hill 450 436 4 1 420 5 6 Roundel 324 299 4 16 289 4 7 Queen's Head 398 398 4 6 392 4 8 King's Chair 332 322 4 10 317 4 9 Corbie 151 141 3 12 134 3 Out 2976 2830 2758 36 10 Thucket Knowe 466 434 4 7 398 5 11 Maggie's Loup 471 427 4 2 420 4 12 The Valley 480 423 5 11 413 5 13 Hole Across 170 160 3 15 135 3 14 The Shelter 435 409 4 3 406 5 15 Pumphouse 537 487 5 9 466 5 16 Traprain 186 177 3 13 166 3 17 Hilltop 390 390 4 5 379 4 18 Kirklands 355 338 4 17 316 4 In 3490 3227 36 3099 38 Out 2976 2830 35 2758 36 Total 6466 6077 71 5857 74 Medal Tees - Par 71, S.S.S. 72 Forward Tees - Par 71, S.S.S. 70 Ladies Tees - Par 74, S.S.S. 74 GULLANE #2 This course runs next to its big brother, Gullane #1, for the first 7 holes. Then it veers off on its own. At 6,244 yards it is a 3 wood shorter than #1's 6,466 yards and a bit less challenging--a wee bit! But at less than half the price, it's a fantastic bargain. There are only two par 4s that are over 400 yards, one at 408 and the other at 425 yards. Compare this with Gullane #1 which has par 4s of 435 yards, 450 yards, 466 yards, and 471 yards. The terrain on which Gullane #2 and Gullane #3 are laid out is exactly the same as #1, so you get the same hills and fairway undulations and wind on all the courses. You also get the same fine greens. Gullane #2 is well worth playing, and not just because of the price. This is not an easy course by any means. In fact, if it were on its own and not tied in name to its first-born brother, it would be famous in its own right. I would definitely recommend this course to everyone. It's an excellent test of golf. If you have a mid to high handicap, you may enjoy it more than #1. Not only will you get the feel and all the enjoyment of Gullane #1 for less than half the price, you'll have more fun because you will be getting more legitimate opportunities for pars and even birdies. Golf Nook Scotland rating for Gullane #2 -- a PAR Gullane #2 - Scorecard # Medal Par SI Red Par SI # Medal Par SI Red Par SI 1 366 4 9 349 4 9 10 381 4 6 314 4 6 2 334 4 7 320 4 3 11 215 3 16 169 3 16 3 237 4 13 226 4 13 12 408 4 10 372 5 10 4 425 4 1 418 5 5 13 400 4 2 305 4 2 5 171 3 17 146 3 17 14 336 4 12 293 4 12 6 498 5 5 429 5 1 15 175 3 18 151 3 18 7 358 4 15 345 4 15 16 527 5 4 449 5 4 8 393 4 3 309 4 7 17 361 4 8 349 4 8 9 354 4 11 343 4 11 18 305 4 14 279 4 14 Out 3136 36 2885 37 In 3108 35 2681 36 Out 3136 36 2885 37 Total 6244 71 5566 73 Medal tees - Par 71, S.S.S. 70 Ladies tees - Par 73, S.S.S. 73 GULLANE #3 Obviously, at 5,252 yards and with an average fairway stroke distance (AFSD) of 164 yards, this is not a championship links but that doesn't mean it's not worth playing. It's a fine course for testing your game. Don't underestimate it. I've played it and I really like it, and I'm not alone. Many who live in the area like it too. It has some exceptionally designed holes and it runs through exactly the same topography as it's big brothers. There is only one par 5 and that is just 443 yards. It's holes like this that give you a chance to feel like Tiger Woods and putt for eagle! (Of course the hole is uphill all the way, so chances are it will take you three to get on.) The price is only £17, so how wrong can you go? It's an especially good course to play if you're looking for a second course to play in one day. You will need accurate shot-making to hit the small greens, but you will still be playing on the same type of links and the same types of greens as the other two courses. Because of the low price and nice layout, I certainly recommend this course. I wouldn't play it instead of the other great courses in the area, but to sharpen up your game or just to go out and have some fun or to get your confidence back if #1 has abused you and #2 has done the same, it's an okay play. Golf Nook Scotland rating for Gullane #3 -- a PAR. Gullane #3 - Scorecard # Yards Par SI Red Par SI # Yards Par SI Red Par SI 1 341 4 3 327 4 3 11 450 4 4 424 5 4 2 144 3 17 133 3 17 12 135 3 18 125 3 18 3 293 4 5 241 4 5 13 371 4 8 460 4 8 4 250 4 13 238 4 13 14 186 3 14 169 3 14 5 314 4 7 262 4 7 15 443 5 2 419 5 2 6 342 4 1 330 4 1 16 169 3 12 168 3 12 7 311 4 11 295 4 11 17 379 4 6 373 4 10 8 165 3 15 155 3 15 18 328 4 10 319 4 6 9 327 4 9 302 4 9 In 304 4 16 280 4 16 Out 2487 34 2283 34 Out 2765 34 2637 35 Total 2487 34 2487 34 5252 68 4920 69 Mens tees - Par 68, S.S.S. 66 Ladies tees - Par 69, S.S.S. 69 GREEN FEES: WEEKDAYS 18 holes / Day ticket #1 - £75 / £95 #2 - £30 / £41 #3 - £19 / £25 SATURDAY & SUNDAY 18 holes Day ticket #1 - £90 / N/A #2 - £36 / £50 #3 - £25 / £34 DAY TICKETS FOR TWO COURSES: #1 & #2 - £95 #1 & #3 - £95 #2 & #3 - £45 Weekly Charges 5 day 7 day All Courses £220 NA Nos. 2 & 3 £95 £115 No. 3 £60 £90 NOTE: Gullane Golf Club is a Members' Club with its own competitions and other times reserved for members. The Club is also host to thousands of visitors, so it's recommended you telephone or e-mail for your bookings. There is a booking fee of £15 per player for Gullane #1, and £5 per player for #s 2 & 3. They are fully refundable if you cancel before 3 months from tee time. Otherwise, the booking fees will be credited to your green fees. If you are playing #1, you must have a handicap of 24 max for men and 30 max for women. Visitors playing #1 may use the facilities of the clubhouse. Those playing #2 & #3 are welcome to use the Visitors' Clubhouse. Shower, towels and lockers are available in both. Also, snacks, bar meals and refreshments are available at both. Gullane Golf Club Gullane, East Lothian EH31 2BB Pro: (0)1620 843111 Starter: (0)1620 843155 Secretary: (0)1620 842255 Fax: (0)1620 842327 Website: www.gullanegolfclub.com e-mail: bookings@gullanegolfclub.com *For WHAT TO DO ALL DAY in addition to the walking suggestion on the left, please see the North Berwick Golf Coast area.