It’s quite simple; Gullane exists for golf. The elder statesman of Gullane Golf Club is the #1 course, records for which reach back to 1650. In total there are three courses at Gullane, all of which, like a magnet, play over Gullane Hill and on some of the best turf in the game. The three courses are essentially divided by their overall yardage and when they were opened. Built in 1884, Gullane 1 is the oldest and longest of the three and has championship pedigree as the multiple times host of the Scottish Open and Open Qualifying plus a long list of other events. Taking a page from the book of St Andrews, the 2015 Scottish Open used 16 holes from #1 and two holes from #2.
It was at Gullane that Babe Didrikson, certainly in the conversation as one of the best women to ever play the game, won the British Ladies Championship in 1947. Her awesome display of power is legendary. It is reported that with a modest tailwind she reached the uphill 15
th, a hole of 535 yards, with a drive/4 iron! Not only a top class golfer who in less than 10 years as a pro won 48 events, including 10 majors, was also a founding member of the LPGA. Babe's final major championship, the 1954 US Women's Open, was won wearing a colostomy bag shortly after what turned out to be cancer surgery. Not to mention winning three Olympic medals in athletics at the 1932 Games, playing in spring season major league ball games etc etc. In short, Babe Didrikson was a remarkable person.
The opener is a proverbial handshake with the drive playing into a pocket of bunkers...perfect.
The game is afoot on 2. The hole isn't overly long, but it is narrow without much in the way of forgiveness. To my eye the hole looks built. I suspect earth moving took place to make the hole playable. The green is tucked between dunes near the top of the valley.
Back down Gullane Hill we go with the third...a short par 5.
The short holes are compelling. #4. Although, the bunkers add nothing.
More to follow.
Ciao