Gullane
XXXX (No 1)
Gullane (No 1)
From the 7th tee, this coastline of golfing heaven is on full display. It
may well be one of the most glorious golfing views anywhere. The
tee overlooks five links courses – including Muirfield – and three
of them are at Gullane. There’s no better time to appreciate fully
the golfing challenges and beauty of this venerable club. To reach
this point you have meandered up Gullane Hill, enjoying the most
perfect of links turf. The club is renowned for its springy surfaces
and fairways are in play all year round. From the 7th you’re heading
downhill again and you will discover that downhill lies are more
demanding than their uphill brethren… especially with pot bunkers
nuzzling up to big greens. The par three 9th has eight bunkers
surrounding a 40 yard-long green. That 7th hole has 10. This smooth,
elegant links hosted the 2018 Scottish Open for men and ladies.
Gullane (No 2)
Younger and shorter than No. 1, this was laid out by the legendary
Willie Park Jr, in 1898. (The No. 3 course was also laid out by Willie
Park Jr and boasts the best views of the three.) No. 2 starts right
beside No.1 and keeps abreast of it for seven holes, climbing Gullane
Hill, before slipping away and dropping down to Aberlady Bay. The
bunkering is strong and, like its older sibling, of the pot variety. Only
two holes are over 400 yards (middle tees) while the par threes are
highly regarded. Indeed, the day’s best views are from the downhill
11th tee. The similarities between the two are strong and the
shorter course often gets the nod in terms of popularity as its open
landscape boasts intricately designed holes. It has been used for
Open Championship Qualifying.
70
Mortonhall
A beautifully rumpled parkland, bursting with colour and variety.
This is an old club – dating to the 1890s – and the maturity of the
setting is captivating with views stretching across Edinburgh, the
Firth of Forth and the Pentland Hills. The thrills come from several
steep rocky hillocks, where holes are encased in blazing gorse. Trees
and water add extra appeal as well as additional danger, and then
there are the tight doglegs. The wayward golfer can be punished
severely but the elevation changes make it clear what is required of
you. This is a perfectly balanced par 72 and Mortonhall is playable
52 weeks a year. The par four 2nd is known as ‘Moorfoot’ and it is
Index 1: the high tee shows off the course and the views.
Luffness New
There are rich pickings on this stretch of East Lothian coastline.
Tucked in close to the Gullane courses is Luffness New. It has the
same terrain and springy turf, and the deep bunkers almost mirror
those of its more renowned neighbour but Luffness New has a
strong identity of its own. Cross bunkering and treacherous rough
mean golfers must consider tee shots carefully. The club is also well
known for the perfect roll of its low-lying greens but it will take all
your abilities to find them… your short game will be tested time and
again. Elevation changes are subtle, the strongest coming as you
head out to Aberlady Bay, but this links requires guile and careful
navigation. It may be no monster – par 70 – but it plays tough. And
the ‘New’ actually refers to the replacement course, which opened
in 1894. Old-school, traditional links.