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 hosts 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 .
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 .
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