Glorious Gullane! Now w/Actual Photos (More to Follow)

[MCirba]

Last month I was able to spend a spectacular afternoon in the company of two GCA-ers playing Gullane #1.

I'm not a photographer and took these with my Samsung smartphone, and they certainly aren't of the caliber of some of the other excellent photo threads of those who post regularly like Joe and Jon and Sean, but I trust they capture the essence and are worth a few thousand words.

I'll post the first half now and the others later as I'm able.   Please let me know any questions or impressions.

Thanks!

***EDIT*** Did I mention that I find the new GCA format very difficult to work with?   I'll try again later, sorry folks.

 

[MCirba]

 














 
 
 
 

[Niall C]

Good stuff Mike. What's that piece of land over Martin's shoulder ? Looks like it might have potential 


Niall

[MCirba]

Niall,

What??  That auld water meadie??

[MCirba]

[Joe Bausch]

Just a coincidence that pint appears more consumed than the plate of food?


 

[MCirba]

Liquid courage.

[Michael Graham]

Liquid courage.

For the haggis, neeps and tatties? 

How did you enjoy Scotland's culinary gift to the world (not including a deep fried Mars bar)?

[BHoover]

I haven't played it, but Gullane seems like the ideal golf club in my opinion. Three courses, plus a children's course, and the cost of membership is entirely reasonable, unlike most golf here in the US. Another reason to be jealous of our friends living in Scotland.

[Phil McDade]

Mike:


First time I've seen good, in-depth pictures of Gullane -- it looks like a really fine course. Plenty of width for what I assume is a pretty exposed and windy site. Thanks for sharing.

[MCirba]

Michael,

I ate Haggis for dinner after Muirfield and for breakfast the next morning.

Whether that contributed to my ability to walk 18 at Renaissance, 9 at Old Musselburgh, and 18 at Gullane that day I couldn't say. 

[Peter Pallotta]

Thank you, Mike.

Alas, in the months and years ahead will there ever be a developer and/or architect willing to do so little? And, equally, would many of today's "retail golfers" make the pilgrimage to any new course that dared to? And, perhaps most importantly, even if the architect dared to and the retail golfer did, would designing such a course be a mistake? Is it just my nostalgia that likens simpler with better?

Peter

[Bill_McBride]

Good stuff Mike. What's that piece of land over Martin's shoulder ? Looks like it might have potential 


Niall

Who is the fellow on the left wearing True Links shoes?


Nephew looks to be in fine fettle as always. 


I'm very sorry that I've been so fixated on North Berwick on four past East Lothian trips that I've never played the courses at Gullane.  Just looks terrific. 


Did you have time for a visit with Archie Baird?  Loved his wee museum in May. 

[Marty Bonnar]

Great photos, Mike, but when did I turn into my dad!?!?
Looking back on our round, I now think what I most loved about #1 was how subtle and unassuming the course was. That's not to say it was without character as it had that in spades. I think I'm at long last beginning to properly understand and relish micro undulation over more theatrical design and this was another valuable lesson in that particular genre. There's magic to be found in simplicity - and good frugal Scottish economy!
A very fun routing, coupled with a great set of par threes, awesome views, fine conditioning, clever bunkering and perfect golfing weather made for a great day with good company!
Cheers,
F.

[JJShanley]

I haven't played it, but Gullane seems like the ideal golf club in my opinion. Three courses, plus a children's course, and the cost of membership is entirely reasonable, unlike most golf here in the US. Another reason to be jealous of our friends living in Scotland.

If only they didn't have a 15 year waiting list...

[BHoover]

I haven't played it, but Gullane seems like the ideal golf club in my opinion. Three courses, plus a children's course, and the cost of membership is entirely reasonable, unlike most golf here in the US. Another reason to be jealous of our friends living in Scotland.

If only they didn't have a 15 year waiting list...

So the club must be doing something right.

[Michael Graham]

I'm always slightly perplexed by the lack of of love Gullane #1 gets on GCA. I think it's a terrific course. It seems that a lot, if not most overseas visitors make sure to include Muirfield and North Berwick on their itineraries of East Lothian but bypass Gullane. I get that Gullane #1 doesn't have the quirk of NB nor the history and aura of Muirfied but to skip it entirely baffles me. I can also understand the argument that #1 is perhaps overpriced and that some will struggle to justify its summer rate of £135 (2016 weekend price) but again compared to what the other big name East Lothian courses are charging there isn't much difference in price. I also don't get the argument that visitors should skip #1 and play #2 or #3 instead. They are both good courses in their own right but to anyway definitely not worth playing ahead of #1


Like Martin, I love how unassuming the course is. It just seems to be beautifully draped across the landscape.

[Mark Pearce]

£135?  That's £30 more than NBWL.  I'm struggling to persuade myself that anywhere is worth over £100 a round.  I could never persuade myself that Gullane 1 is worth that.

[Sean_A]

I recall being quite happy to play Gullane #1 when it was about £60 many years ago.  The course doesn't come close to stacking up with NBWL or Muirfield, but it does have a great vibe for a day out when the house is thrown in.  To me, the fairways are too flat to really be top class and much of the bunkering isn't imaginatively placed to overcome the flatness.  That said, #1 is a good course and as mentioned above, Gullane would be a good club for membership.  Though I am told the house has updated...that is worrying because the old house was very cool.  I suspect new lockerooms (the old one was quite dated even years ago) and a casual lounge were added.

Mike

Thanks for the lovely pix.  Glad you enjoyed the day.

Ciao

[Mark Pearce]

I recall the Gullane 1 clubhouse being a very fine place.  Like Sean I hope it hasn't been changed too much.

[Michael Graham]

I've not been in the members' clubhouse since it was re-opened but this is what the club's website has to say...

"The Members' Clubhouse opened its door again in early June 2015 after an 18 month restoration.
The Members’ Clubhouse has been a landmark on Gullane’s skyline for nearly 100 years so it was imperative that any changes would not affect the look of the town,” said David Morgan, the Club's Secretary. “Instead we wanted to retain the exterior of the clubhouse while revitalizing the interior to accommodate a busy, modern club with all of its demands. I am pleased to say this was achieved.”
The 18-month project saw Gullane’s iconic clubhouse close to both members and the public while the extensive restoration work took place.
The technical task of upgrading Gullane’s clubhouse while retaining the essence and classical frontage, went to award-winning Edinburgh design firm Susan Stephen Architects. The completely redesigned first floor, which incorporates the main dining facilities maximizes the views across Gullane’s famous links courses. The plans allowed for a new contemporary glazed golfer’s entrance to the rear of the building with a welcoming bag drop lobby, drying room and trolley charging store.
The rear extension not only provides both men’s and women’s locker rooms with direct access to the new entrance lobby, but importantly sits quietly hidden from public view. “Gullane is a conservation area, so retaining the façade and elevation of the clubhouse was essential,” explains managing director Susan Stephen. “It is a dominant building in the landscape and visible as you drive into the village. It is an important landmark that we wanted to reinforce.”
She continued: “We tried to give the members everything they had before but enhance their experience”.
The clubhouse now incorporates flexible, interlinked social spaces while retaining the character of the original layout. It is, as Gullane’s Captain puts it, a timely improvement to the club. “We are extremely pleased with the results,” said Robert Dick. “It represents a considerable investment but clearly illustrates our continued commitment to providing our members and visitors with a world-class experience. Although we have only just moved back in, the response has been extremely encouraging”.

[Sean_A]

I guess the club has to spend the expensive green fee income on something.  Its the way of the Scottish golfing world. 


Ciao

[Tim Gallant]

I haven't played it, but Gullane seems like the ideal golf club in my opinion. Three courses, plus a children's course, and the cost of membership is entirely reasonable, unlike most golf here in the US. Another reason to be jealous of our friends living in Scotland.

Agreed - I wonder why more US courses don't adopt the UK method to keeping member costs low of allowing limited unaccompanied guest play. That extra $ won't matter for the big clubs, but could keep costs down for members at clubs that might be struggling to make ends meet and provide a similar experience.

[Niall C]

I guess the club has to spend the expensive green fee income on something.  Its the way of the Scottish golfing world. 


Ciao

Sean


The reason why the greenfee is so high on no. 1 is to actually discourage visitors so as to keep it free for members. Of course overseas visitors will want to play no. 1 but local visitors on repeat visits happily settle for 2 and 3. I think I'm right in saying that the majority of visitor income comes from 2 and 3 which are busy all year round.


Niall

[BHoover]

I haven't played it, but Gullane seems like the ideal golf club in my opinion. Three courses, plus a children's course, and the cost of membership is entirely reasonable, unlike most golf here in the US. Another reason to be jealous of our friends living in Scotland.

Agreed - I wonder why more US courses don't adopt the UK method to keeping member costs low of allowing limited unaccompanied guest play. That extra $ won't matter for the big clubs, but could keep costs down for members at clubs that might be struggling to make ends meet and provide a similar experience.

I don't want to derail this Gullane thread with a discussion of club economics. But the short answer is that if the US club is member-owned, then it is likely a tax-exempt organization, and the federal tax laws limit the amount of income that can be collected from unaccompanied visitor fees. So, among other things, the UK model doesn't fit nicely because of US tax law.