DESTINATIONGOLF . TRAVEL
SOUTHEAST
Gullane ( 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 . To reach this point you have meandered up and over Gullane Hill . The club is renowned for its crisp turf and fairways are therefore 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 . It gives Gullane an extra feature you rarely find on other links . The challenge of those lies is compounded by the pot bunkers nuzzling up to big greens . The par three 9th has eight bunkers surrounding a 40 yard-long green . This smooth , elegant links hosted the 2018 Scottish Open for both 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 .
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 .
“ From the 7th you ’ re heading downhill again and you will discover that downhill lies are more demanding than their uphill brethren . It gives Gullane an extra feature you rarely find on other links .”
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