GULLANE GOLF CLUB
🏴 Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
Designed by Willie Park Jr.
Gullane Golf Club's Course No. 1 occupies elevated linksland on Gullane Hill in East Lothian, approximately twenty miles east of Edinburgh along Scotland's golf coast. Willie Park Jr., the two-time Open Champion and prolific course architect of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, designed the layout. The course sits above the village of Gullane and commands views across the Firth of Forth to Fife, with several other notable courses visible from its higher points.
The routing makes full use of the hill's natural contours and the prevailing winds off the water. The opening holes climb toward the course's highest elevations, where golfers encounter exposed, windswept terrain and firm turf typical of Scottish links. The descent brings a different set of challenges as holes turn back toward the clubhouse. The land features the rumpled ground, natural hollows, and gorse that characterize links golf in this region, and the bunkering reflects Park's design principles from the era.
Gullane No. 1 has hosted numerous important amateur championships and qualifying rounds for The Open Championship when the championship is played at nearby Muirfield. The club operates three eighteen-hole courses and a children's course on the same property, making it one of Scotland's busiest golf venues. The clubhouse serves all courses and maintains traditional Scottish golf club customs, though visitors are welcomed on all layouts throughout the year.
Reviews
This was my first real experience of Scottish links golf, so my emotions towards Gullane no. 1 are likely positively skewed. Your first tee shot is from the edge of the town along the main road and you’re playing towards this massive hill, which happens to be the wonderfully uphill funnelling #2 par-4 (think #10 at Chambers). When you walk onto the 3rd tee however, you’re greeted with this incredible expansive view of the ocean & the entire property reveals itself to you. Truth be told, I didn’t realize how close we were to the water until the 3rd tee (Pic #2). The rest of the course is so unique in terms of hole design & how it differs from a more traditional link setup - you’re going up, down, and around the entire property, with insane views of the ocean (& even a distant glimpse of Muirfield). The closing holes take you out of this massive sanctuary back over the hill and towards town. Can’t recommend enough. I got my absolute teeth kicked in the whole day and shot like an 86 which would normally have me on suey-watch, but this place is so cool I didn’t even care. The coolest detail imo was the paths - they were 100% made out of collected shells. Having a background in groundskeeping, that would have been an insane task.
A links that lays naturally on an exciting property. Not the greatest links but the views and setting are truly some of the best in the world.
A really unique course that starts in the town and works towards the water. Great conditions, some elevation change, and a really cool set of holes. Holes 9-12 are on the water and provide great views.
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FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
1 at Gullane Golf Club has a Course Vaults score of 8.5 out of 10 based on 32 explicit golfer ratings.
1 was designed by Willie Park Jr..
Yes. 1 at Gullane Golf Club is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at 1 is 71.
1 plays 6,873 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at 1 is 131.
