During mine and Tom’s latest excursion north of the border we were fortunate to spend some time at Gullane Golf Club. A staple for any East Lothian trip, Gullane offers three courses which are ‘all maintained to the same exacting standard’ (quote shamelessly lifted from our Story of a Golf Club film there back in 2020), with views across the Firth of Forth on some of the best golfing ground you can experience anywhere in the world.
The three courses at Gullane – simply known as No. 1, 2 & 3 – all play alongside the road, traverse and then ascend the iconic Gullane Hill, before plunging down and out towards the nature reserve which straddles the shore line before making the turn for home. But one thing we noticed and remarked on is the vast difference in green fees for visiting golfers and the associated demand which varies for rounds on the three courses.
During the Scottish Open at Gullane in 2018 and 2015, a composite routing was used consisting of 2 holes from No. 2 (7th & 8th) and the remaining 16 from No. 1. Coupled with the hosting of the Scottish Open, No. 1 is also regarded to be the best course. Having played the second course many moons ago and aware that No. 3 is a much shorter alternative I was curious to know whether the green fees and general playing demand from visitors is commensurate with the caliber of golf on offer (speaking from experience elsewhere, it almost certainly was not).
Day 1 we played No.1, on Day 2 we managed to see Gullane 2, and somewhat fatigued by the high winds and a few days of tour indulgence now creeping in, we managed to muster enough energy for a lap on Gullane 3 in the afternoon.
After completing the trifecta of Gullane’s courses, high on excitement, torn in half by 40 mph winds and keen to sample the local beers, Tom & I sat down that evening to create a composite 18 hole course using what we felt to be the most enjoyable holes from any of the courses there, using a similar process to the Eclectic 18 exercise, by determining the greatest 1st hole, 2nd hole (and so on) from each of the three courses.
Once we had negotiated the ordering pad and pen from the barman at The Nether Abbey, drinks and an animated debate followed until we had reached consensus. Whilst it is subjective, the result we landed on speaks volumes as to the consistent quality of the courses which reinforces the belief ‘second courses’ are completely overlooked by golfers. ‘Bag-Tag-Barry’s’ often quick to play the headliner and then head off in search of their next prey’.
Before we get to the results, the green fees should provide a helpful piece of context, and when you look at the results its incredible to think more people don’t seek an afternoon short loop on 3, or perhaps opt for No. 2 to help balance the overall cost of a trip.
I think it was the wine documentary ‘Somm’ that I watched, where the comment was made about wine consumption being a decision made with a gambler’s philosophy. The notion that you are staking a certain amount that the bottle in question will deliver more than that in value for you. Clearly there are cheaper or more expensive wines available, but you make the decision on a certain bottle because you think it has the propensity to be better than the price you are paying for it.
I don’t see the same thinking when it comes to the traveling golfer that often, which if it were the case you would almost certainly see more people attempting to putt from 176 yards above the green on 15 at No. 3 or talk about the cricket score they notched up on the 14th on No. 2 because they thought they could have a crack at the green with a driver over the corner. This mindset would expose ourselves to more courses at all ends of the spectrum, and perhaps break the cycle of chasing the never ending bucket list of course lists that occupy our office walls.
Weekday Green fees May – September
Gullane 1 – £195
Gullane 2 – £85
Gullane 3 – £49
The Results:
Not surprisingly, for a course which offers holes on some of the most dramatic high points, with the closest proximity to the coastline of the three, Gullane 1 took the most holes – 9 to be specific. It’s a brilliantly routed golf course, and you reach some incredible high’s on your way around. The view from the 7th tee across to Edinburgh and Arthur’s Seat in the distance which bernard Darwin wrote so fondly of, or the rolling expanse of fairway which trundles down towards the infinity green on 11, with the concrete defense structures dotted along the coast, a nod to wartime era.
Gullane 2 as a fully packaged 18 offers a very similar feel to No. 1. A full length traditional ‘championship test’ (although I really do hate that description), and feels every inch as good No.1. Interestingly, neither of the two holes featuring in the composite Scottish Open courses made our top 18 and whilst only 3 holes made an appearance in total it does not capture the brilliance of the course which is well routed and flows brilliantly – perhaps a course which is greater than the sum of its parts?
Then there is No. 3 which offers the most variation and manages to secure 6 holes within the composite 18, far more than its ‘fair-share’. As a 5,000 yard par 67 with more intriguing landforms, it has a lot more movement and rumpling on the ground and – based on the conditions when we played – probably has the fastest links ground out of all three. The fact No.3 borders Luffness (also famed for its rock hard fescue rich turf) would probably indicate the ground quality increases steadily (albeit only slightly) the further you drift from North to South and down to Luffness Golf Club. We also heard more than the odd member remark that the greens on No. 3 are possibly the best of the lot!
What does this tell us? Well for me at least it’s that we don’t need to constantly play the bigger trophy course when we visit somewhere, and that the second courses are to be ignored at your peril.
A recent visit to Portmarnock showed exactly the same. The red & blue championship routing is booked out with travellers near and far for 52 weeks of the year, yet very few of those people venture out onto the yellow for an afternoon nine which offers even firmer ground conditions, and requires even more precise play with your second shots. The yellow nine alone is a reason to visit Portmarnock Golf Club. Very few people opt to stay on longer at Royal County Down to play the Annsley and I have lost count of the number of people who brag about a day at Formby only to tell me they ‘’didn’t have the time’’ to take half a set out onto the Ladies course.
All three courses at Gullane offer a brilliant taste of East Lothian links golf. They are all magnificent and each is worth playing, but if you were to use the Somm rationale, the wine-connoisseur pick would unquestionably be 2 & 3, simply for the value they offer.