Gullane 1,2,3

[Daryl David]

I have a 36 hole day to set up at Gullane for next year's trip and would love opinions on what you would opt for.  Playing  1 and 2 or playing 1 and 3.  I had assumed 1 and 2 was the obvious choice, but have been hearing lots of favorable remarks about number 3 lately.

[Bill_McBride]

Daryl, I hope you have a round or two at North Berwick on your itinerary.

[Daryl David]

Oh yes!  36 at North Berwick, Dunbar, Luffness New and Muirfield are all in the plan along with the 2 at Gullane.

[Bill_McBride]

   (That's me, drooling with envy)

I wonder what is the accessiblity of Tom Doak's new course at Archerfield.  Actually, I don't even know if the course is done yet.  It's typically possible to contact most every UK club and arrange, in advance, for a round.

[Darren_Kilfara]

I really like #3, Daryl. It's about 1,000 yards shorter than #2 (5,250 vs. 6,250), but I think it's a bit more interesting and has fewer dull holes (the 3rd on #2 is the single worst hole in Gullane); also, #3 probably has less in common with #1 than #2 does, so you can think of it as yielding a rather more different experience. If your group is hung up on length, go for #2, but I think it can be really instructive and interesting to see how some of Scotland's really short courses can be so much fun, so I'd cast my vote for #3. (Plus, #1 + #3 is £10 cheaper than #1 + #2, if that matters to you!)

Cheers,
Darren

[Darren_Kilfara]

(By the way, Bill, your post is symptomatic of many I've seen here at GCA - not to pick on you in particular, as the same thing happened in Chris Kane's recent Links Trust thread, but how often does someone come here to ask a specific question, only to immediately be greeted with one or more tangents utterly unrelated to it? Usually the question is something along the lines of, "Should I play X or Y?", and the tangent is along the lines of, "What about Z? And don't even think about not playing A, B or C..." etc. etc. How often is that sort of response actually helpful?)

[Tom_Doak]

Daryl:

All three courses are good.  A friend of mine thinks that the club is scamming the overseas visitors by getting them to pay so much to play #1, which supports the other two -- he thinks the other two are more fun to play.

Depends on what you're there for.  #1 is the real championship test, if you are below an 8 handicap you should play there and either of the others.  #3 is more fun and a lot easier (par is 65 or so and you have a chance of breaking 70 there); #2 is prettier and although Darren is right about the third hole, it is much better than I wrote in The Confidential Guide.  

[Bill_McBride]

(By the way, Bill, your post is symptomatic of many I've seen here at GCA - not to pick on you in particular, as the same thing happened in Chris Kane's recent Links Trust thread, but how often does someone come here to ask a specific question, only to immediately be greeted with one or more tangents utterly unrelated to it? Usually the question is something along the lines of, "Should I play X or Y?", and the tangent is along the lines of, "What about Z? And don't even think about not playing A, B or C..." etc. etc. How often is that sort of response actually helpful?)

I probably should have noted that I've not played any of the Gullane courses so couldn't comment, but I have played several rounds at North Berwick and would hope anyone looking at Gullane would also have included North Berwick.

Have you noticed that you can be a bit of a prig on occasion?  Just wondering.  

[Daryl David]

Thanks for the input.  I think the group will enjoy the combination of #1 and #3.  We are getting plenty of "championship" golf on the trip and I wanted to mix in some of the shorter interesting links.  Similar to making sure one plays Brora when camped out at Dornoch.  Last trip we played Longniddry and had a ball.  I doubt we would have considered that course except for comments I heard on this site.  Thanks again.  

[RSLivingston_III]

Play #3, it is really a fun course. See if you can get all the guys to leave there drivers in the car and play it with nothing stronger than a 3 wood.
 
Kilspindie is the other choice, and I would do the same -driver thing. But only play it if there is a fairly decent wind if you want to see the good stuff in that course.

[SPDB]

Daryl - You're in for a treat no matter what. I really liked Gullane 1 and I think what I found so appealing was the way the course marches up Gullane Hill, into the rush and then back up several times. I sometimes wonder whether I'm the only one who likes Gullane #1 without reservation.

I found the 2d at #1 one of the more intriguing holes I've played. The narrow green that sits in the saddle makes for one of the most interesting skyline greens I've seen:





Enjoy.

[SPDB]

And then linger awhile (not too long) remembering Darwin's description:

"Gullane Hill, with the sun shining and the wind blowing, the black clouds banked beyond the Forth, and just a glimpse in the distance of the mighty tracery of the Forth Bridge, is one of the most beautiful spots in the world."

[Darren_Kilfara]

Have you noticed that you can be a bit of a prig on occasion?  Just wondering.  

Yes.

(Still, my policy when I'm unable to answer a specific question is to remain silent, at least until someone else makes an initial attempt to answer it, rather than risk hijacking the thread and seeing the question go unanswered. Your mileage may vary, but this seems to me the courteous thing to do...)

Cheers,
Darren

[Bill_McBride]

Darren, thanks for the  , I was a bit cranky yesterday.

Nonetheless, I see nothing wrong with a bit of congeniality from time to time, even thought it may be OT.  GCA needs more congeniality and less friction.

[Glenn Spencer]

I just barely liked Muirfield more than Gullane 1. It is one of my favorite golf courses, if it were me, I would play both on 1. This said, I didn't play the other two, but I loved 1.

[Darren_Kilfara]

I just barely liked Muirfield more than Gullane 1. It is one of my favorite golf courses, if it were me, I would play both on 1. This said, I didn't play the other two, but I loved 1.

Funny, Glenn...that's what I thought after I'd played each of Gullane #1 and Muirfield once. Now, having played them both a few times more, I know better.

Bill - no problem. I'll leave it with that.

Cheers,
Darren

[jg7236]

My father and I played Gullane #1.  We really enjoyed the layout and the scenery of the North Sea.  The front nine is pretty tight as seen from prior pictures and the back nine opens up.  Number 18 is a treat.  The tee sits up high while the green is down very low by the starters box.  With the right wind and a good drive one can get on the green or pretty close to the green with no problem.

I am not able to post pictures, or maybe I just can't perfect it.  I will email you some of my pictures from our trip.  Most of all, Gullane is my father's favorite course in Scotland since he got a hole in one on #9.  

[Daryl David]

Thanks for all the input.  My problem of which two at Gullane to play has solved itself.  Due to a competition at Dunbar, we have an opening so now we will play all three.  It will be great to compare and contrast.  Thanks again all.

[Aaron Katz]

God I love when golf courses are brown like that.  I really need to move to Great Britain.

And then linger awhile (not too long) remembering Darwin's description:

"Gullane Hill, with the sun shining and the wind blowing, the black clouds banked beyond the Forth, and just a glimpse in the distance of the mighty tracery of the Forth Bridge, is one of the most beautiful spots in the world."