WHY PLAY?

GULLANE NO.1

£210

SUMMARY

Gullane Golf Club, located in the heart of Scotlands Golf Coast, boasts 3 wonderful courses.  Gullane 1 is the Championship Course where golf has been played since 1600.  The course is regarded as one of the finest links golf courses anywhere in Scotland.  Established as Gullane Golf Club in 1884 the course is carved into the ancient links turf offers a unique challenge for all golfers. The course is renowned for its fantastic conditions.  Golfers will love the smooth-running greens, pot bunkers, and wispy grasses.  The course recently hosted a European Tour Event – The Scottish Open Championship.   Add to that the fabulous views across to Edinburgh, the Firth of Forth, Fife, and beyond and you have one of the world’s most cherished golfing experiences.

Not surprisingly, the course has been the setting for a host of highly acclaimed tournaments including the 2018 ASI Scottish Open and Ladies Scottish Open, the 2015 Scottish Open, and Final Qualifying for the Open Championship on five occasions. The Scottish Amateur Championship and the Ladies British Open Amateur Championship have both been hosted over No. 1 on four occasions. In 2018, Gullane hosted the European Tour: the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, won by Brandon Stone, was played over a Championship composite course featuring 16 holes from Gullane No. 1 and two holes from Gullane No. 2.

With every hole having its own distinct character, Gullane No. 1 is both memorable and enjoyable, and undoubtedly one of Scotland’s finest and most scenic links courses.

The architect, of Course No. 1 is unknown but golf has been played over the links since the 1600s. The type of grass is predominantly Bent on the fairways and Fescue on the greens. There are 124 bunkers scattered across the course and the average green size is 550m Sq. There are distance markers on the sprinkler heads on Gullane No. 1 to the front, middle, and back of each green.

Gullane 1 has received much acclaim over the years from The Golf Industry.  The National Club Golfer Magazine rated Gullane 1 as the 18th best course in the Top 100 Courses in Scotland. Golf Magazine (USA) recognised Gullane No. 1 as having one of the best holes in the world in the form of the spectacular par five 3rd.  PGA.com rated Gullane as the world’s 5th most picturesque golf spot. Golf Digest ranked Guallne Scotland’s 20th Best Course in Scotland.

WHY PLAY?

KILSPINDIE GOLF CLUB

£85

SUMMARY

Kilspindie Golf Club is a charming links golf course located on Scotland’s Golf Coast close to the elite courses of Muirfield, Gullane, and Renaissance Club.  From its very beginnings Kilspindie, as a golf club, built a reputation as a warm and welcoming Club.  To this day a warm welcome is extended to all golfers.

The course is also very popular with the growing society of Hickory Golfers and is a host course for the Scottish Hickory Golf Tour.  Few changes have been made to Kilspindie links in over a century, so golfers – irrespective of their standard of play – can continue to enjoy the same challenges as have so many in the past. The course is a magnet for hickory-shafted enthusiasts, and the Club can even arrange to hire you a set should you care to try it.

Kilspindie is a Hidden Gem that is simply a joy to play.  Although the course plays to just 5500 yards, from the Medal Tees, this Hidden Gem is likely to be one of your favourite golf experiences in all of Scotland.   You will need to be accurate and avoid its well-placed bunkers, perfect green complexes whilst you enjoy some spectacular views of the Firth of Forth and coast. There’s also the opportunity to experience a variety of birds, plants, and Marine Mammals such as Seals which are courtesy of the nearby nature reserve which is a breeding ground and resting place for many birds and wildlife.

Kilspindie has a wonderful variety of Par 3s. The 1st Hole – The Point is a 158 Yard hole with the green located directly in front of the Bay, The 8th Hole – Gosford Bay is 167 yards played over the Shoreline to a green protected by bunkers.  The 10th Hole – The Pond is a 152 Yard Hole played downhill towards the nature reserve and a protected green.  The 13th Hole – The Kirk is the final and Longest Par 3 at 182 Yards.  The green is framed by the ruins of a Dry Stane Dyke Wall, protected by Pot Bunkers,  and out of bounds to the right!. These wonderful par 3s together with their combination of long Par 4s, short drivable par 4s, and just one par 5 creates a unique fun golf experience that may remind you of why you fell in love with golf.

Although the par is 69, the Standard Scratch Score is 66 so that lets you know you should not be in for too torrid a time when playing here.  If the weather is not to harsh you can expect to experience a charming, old-fashioned, traditional Scottish links course.  Kilspindie is only one of the many golfing pearls in Scotland’s Golf Coast with courses strung out along the southern shores of the Firth of Forth.

The East Coast of Scotland and Fife is known as The Home of Golf.  In the mid-1500s, Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots played on the Links at St Andrew’s and kept a vacation cottage there, often doing her own shopping and cooking. An avid golfer who has been referred to as the “Mother of Golf,” the athletic Queen helped popularize the game. Unfortunately, her hobby was a factor in her demise. The daughter of the Scottish King James V, Stuart made a bold statement by playing a round of golf a few days after the murder of her estranged husband,

King James V was a frequent visitor to Aberlady in the early 16th century when he came for “the archery and golfing” though his attention for the ladies of nearby Gosford was also known to be another reason for his presence in the area! The former course at Aberlady was a short, 5-hole layout known as the Wanster course and it was built on holes seven to eleven of the present 18-hole layout. The club moved here four years after the breakup of Luffness Golf Club in 1894, when some members broke away to form.

WHY PLAY?

NORTH BERWICK WEST LINKS

£150

SUMMARY

The West Links Course at North Berwick Golf Club is among the world’s oldest golf courses. Established in 1832. It’s believed to be the 3rd oldest golf course in the world after St. Andrews Old course and Musselburgh.

Located on Scotland’s Golf Coast, which boasts 21 Scottish golf courses along 30 miles of stunning Firth of Forth coastline. There truly is something for everyone. Wonderful Championship links golf courses, Hidden Gems and an unparalleled selection of courses to suit golfers of all standards.

Located on the Firth of Forth, the sea comes into play on six holes (!), and the course begins and ends directly adjacent to the town of North Berwick. All 18 holes at the 6,500-yard track present unique design features that stimulate a golfer’s creative juices. From rock walls that snake across and along several holes to huge swales that dissect greens, every shot is met with challenges that can be both fun and frustrating at once. Visitors aren’t allowed to play the course from the tips, so the three single-digit handicappers I played with teed it up from the white tees, which measure 6,140 yards. That might seem short, but it was plenty difficult.Golf has been played over the historic West Links course since the 17th century, and we continue to play over the same piece of land as they did back then. With breathtaking views of the Firth of Forth and islands of Bass Rock, Craigleith, Lamb and Fidra, as well as the town of North Berwick itself, there are few places better in the world to play golf!

A true championship links course, having hosted Final Qualifying for The Open Championship and both Gentlemen and Ladies Amateur Championships. An excellent test of golf awaits you.

The West Links Course is a true links located on the edge of the Firth of Forth. It is a championship course having hosted many events over the years.

Playing the course is all about imagination with the sea in play on 6 holes! The beach is just one long and sometimes wet hazard if the tide is in. You will find walls in the middle of fairways and in front of a green. All of these hazards are an important part of our history charting the development of the course from a few holes through to the full 18 hole course. You will enjoy on your visit.

WHY PLAY

THE GLEN – NORTH BERWICK

£60

SUMMARY

If you are in the North Berwick area make time to play one of Scotland’s very best Hidden Gems.   The Glen Golf Course, which is also known as North Berwick’s East Links,  is sometimes overlooked by golfers as a result of the world-class golf courses which surround it.

The Glen is set on a clifftop high above the Town.  You can expect a visually stunning golf experience with wonderful elevated views of North Berwick, The Bass Rock, The historic Tantallon Castle, and the beach which runs adjacent to a number of back 9 holes. On a clear day, you can see over the Firth of Forth to Fife to the new Dunbarnie Links.

Expect numerous good golf holes and some of the best green complexes (3rd Hole) in the area.  Sea Hole, the spectacular 13th, is set on the edge of the cliff where the wind howls.  This hole is fun to play and is one of the most photographed Par 3s in Scotland.

With some huge elevation changes, some parts require steep climbs.  If you need a golf cart you should book early as there is a limited number available [£25]. Like any links course, It is not difficult to lose balls so make sure you carry some spares.

WHY PLAY?

MUIRFIELD HCOEG

£285

NOW ON THE TEE SUMMARY

Muirfield provides golfers with an experience that will last a lifetime.  Any visit to Scotland would not be complete without taking a pilgrimage to the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers in Gullane who wrote the first 13 Rules of Golf in 1744.

Experience this world-class British Open rotation course and walk in the shadows of Champion Golfers Faldo, Els, Nicklaus,  Watson, and Trevino who all won the Claret on these links. The course which has a unique ingenious layout was originally designed by Old Tom Morris.  After your round you will be amazed by some of the artifacts you will see in this historic clubhouse which is steeped in Golf history.

And what a golf course this is! Muirfield is on the very short list of the most ingeniously bunkered golf courses in the world, with very well-defined edge work, some incredible artistic flair, and most significantly, some of the most superb and strategic bunker positioning I’ve ever seen. There is great variety in shot values throughout and the greens are well-contoured, very well protected and all provide great interest both on the putting surfaces themselves and in the immediate surroundings.

The fact that this was accomplished on what would normally be considered a pretty routine and unremarkable piece of land, set well away from the sea, further accentuates the greatness of the design.

The club is steeped in history and that’s never more apparent than when you are walking through the clubhouse and seeing the incredible artifacts lovingly displayed throughout. The locker room is a treat and as indicated, the famous Muirfield lunch is not to be missed.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

When can you play Muirfield?
Visitors can play at Muirfield on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 8 and 10:30 am.  Prebooking a Tee Time is mandatory.

Are there any handicap restrictions?
Golfers are required to have a handicap of 18 or less.

What format of golf do you have to play at Muirfield?
Fourball golf is restricted to morning play only. Those playing in the afternoon have to play foursomes

Muirfield – The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers
Gullane, East Lothian, SCOTLAND

PAR 6728

YARDS (PAR 71) |

RATING/SLOPE: Not Rated |

ARCHITECT: Old Tom Morris (1891)

ACCESSIBILITY: Private |

NOW ON THE TEE FULL MUIRFIELD REVIEW