“Having played on Gullane No.2 in the morning and No.1 in the afternoon, my mind is in an agreeable jumble between the two,” wrote Bernard Darwin in his 1934 book *Playing The Like*. “I am inclined to think I am fonder of No.2, but here again there may be a personal motive; it is decidedly the shorter.”
Golf at Gullane dates back to 1650, though the club was founded in 1882. Open Champion Willie Park Jnr laid out Gullane No.2 in 1899 for ten guineas. The course parallels No.1 for the first seven holes, starting flat before steadily climbing. The 11th hole offers a charming view of Aberlady Bay and is the best short hole on the course, typically playing into the wind to a sloping green. Frank Pennink remodelled the 12th hole in 1969, leading to a secluded nature reserve. Darwin remarked, “We feel as if we were playing in a little world of our own – ours and the gulls’ and the rabbits’.”
Gullane No.2 conveys a sense of openness with its expansive skies and seemingly wide fairways, but each hole has its challenges, creating an illusion of ease. The course has hosted Open Championship Final Qualifying, proving its difficulty. Playing No.2 along with No.1 offers a memorable experience on Gullane Hill.
