With three courses, all of varying difficulties and length, Gullane Golf Club is the perfect golfing spot for visitors to East Lothian.
Like our visit to Longniddry the day before, Gullane also brings back childhood memories. Family holidays were spent in this part of the world, and I also returned for a day when the Scottish Open was hosted on the No.1 Course. Rickie Fowler would go on to win that week, and his driver from that week sits in the Links Clubhouse.
Our competitors went up against the No.2 Course on the day, and that wasn’t the only thing that they were battling. On this Tuesday morning, the winds were pushing past 40mph, with those teeing off in the early wave dealing with the brunt of conditions. Amazingly, we had a couple of scores in the 40s, and plenty of other players getting a cut to their handicap the following morning.
It is certainly not the longest course in the world. From the tips, the No.2 Course is only 6,400 yards long, while our competitors played from the Yellows – dealing with just over 6,000 yards of pristine Scottish links turf. It plays as a Par 71 for the men, while off the Reds for the ladies, the No.2 Course is a Par 73. The 4th and 12th play as extra par 5s.
- RELATED: NCG Top 100s – Gullane No.2
What is the course like and what are the best holes?
As mentioned earlier, the No.2 Course is not the longest that you will find, and not the longest that our competitors will take on during their time on the NCG Top 100s Tour. However, it still has its challenges, and the weather certainly can play a factor. The opening tee shot brings danger into play from the off, with out of bounds down the entirety of the left side – due to the driving range being in close proximity.
You cross the road after the 1st hole, and as you continue to run alongside the No.1 Course, there are some quirky holes. The 3rd is the shortest par 4, at less than 240 yards. However, it is severely uphill and you cannot see the green, so taking drive out is not necessarily the play. You need enough club to get to the top of the hill, which will give you the perfect opportunity to make a birdie.
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When you stand on the 4th tee, you can understand why you probably needed to make birdie on the last, as the 4th is the hardest hole on the course. The 7th and 8th holes of the No.2 Course were used as part of the composite course that was in play for the 2018 Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open. Both par 4s, they offer up different challenges as you get to the midpoint of your round on the No.2 Course. The 7th offers up a blind tee shot, while the 8th is a dog-leg left that has plenty of sand traps to catch errant shots, both from the tee and the approach.
The 5th and 11th (above) were the two holes that had the Nearest The Pin challenges on for our players, and as always, the conditions made things much tougher than we anticipated. The 5th might have only been 170 yards from the Yellow tees, but it was playing more like 200 because of those strong early winds. Meanwhile, the 11th felt even longer, as it plays in the same direction as 5, but the number of the card is even bigger to begin with…
The 16th begins the closing stretch on the No.2 Course, and it is the only par 5 on the back nine. At just 471 yards from the Yellows, this was a good scoring hole for our players on the day. That was, if they could avoid the nine bunkers that line, and intercept, the fairway on 16!
The 17th gives you an incredible view from the top of the hill. It plays severely downhill and back towards the road, and it can be a hole where your card is ruined. Driver is not always the play with how downhill it plays, and with the fairway sloping from left to right as well. Find the green and make four before crossing over the road for the final time. The last hole on the No.2 Course is drivable for the biggest of hitters, especially off the Yellows, as it plays 290 yards. For most, it is still a birdie opportunity, with a good drive finding the short stuff.
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What did our competitors think of Gullane Golf Club?
Looking for other opinions on Gullane? Check out what some of our players had to say about the Cheshire venue here:
“Despite the conditions, it was a thoroughly enjoyable day, and it was just as good as I remember it being in the past!” – Richard McLean
“Playing both at Longniddry and here today, which we thought was amazing, has really made us look forward to more events in 2025!” – Samantha McFadzean
What about the off-course facilities?
Unlike a lot of links courses in the area, the facilities at Gullane are relatively new. The Links Clubhouse, which services those golfers playing on the No.2 and No.3 Courses, was only opened in 2011, and you can tell. Inside, it feel fresh and clean, and the decor includes pictures and memorabilia of previous events, and players that have graced Gullane with their presence over the years. There’s also a course map from 1910, which shows the lay of the land more than a century ago…
The pro shop is also housed in the Links Clubhouse, and it features a wide range of goodies for visitors to purchase and take home. The Starters Hut sits by the opening holes of both the No.2 and No.3 Courses, and the staff are welcoming, providing golfers with a free range token so they can get a feel for where their game is before taking to either golf course.
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Along with the driving range, there is also a large putting green and a beautiful short game, with numbered stones around the green, giving you the option of playing some fun games with your friends as you try and dial in your wedges.
How can you play the No.2 Course at Gullane Golf Club?
With Gullane Golf Club having three golf courses, there is plenty of choice for visitors, and there are tee times available on all three courses throughout the week.
You can check out the green fees for a game at Gullane Golf Club here, and you can book a tee time at Gullane via their website here.
The venue is situated in East Lothian, on the eastern coastline of Scotland. The likes of Archerfield, The Renaissance Club, North Berwick and Kilspindie are within just minutes of Gullane, in one of many golfing paradises in Scotland.
We are looking at bringing our golfers back to Gullane on the NCG Top 100s Tour next year!
- Keep up to date with the 2025 NCG Top 100s Tour schedule here.
Get in touch with Gullane Golf Club
For more information about the club and course, visit the club’s website.
To get in touch with Gullane, you can call them on 01620 842 255, or you can get in contact with the club using their contact form here.
Now have your say
Have you ever played Gullane before? Let us know with a post on X, formerly Twitter!
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