Gullane No 2
Gullane is one of the great golfing villages of East Lothian, three courses spilling over a whale backed hill above the Firth of Forth. The No 2 is the quietly brilliant member of the family: a Willie Park Jr links from 1898 that climbs Gullane Hill for some of the best views in the game, then tumbles back down through firm fairways and clever short holes. A championship pedigree at a fraction of the fuss.
Photo: Derek Henry via Google.
The verdict
Gullane has three links courses, and while the No 1 takes the headlines, regular visitors will tell you the No 2 is the one they want to play again. Laid out by Willie Park Jr in 1898, the two time Open champion and architect of Sunningdale Old, it is a true links of par 71 and about 6,390 yards that shares the same magnificent ground: the slopes and summit of Gullane Hill, rising straight out of the village.
What you get is a course that rewards thinking. The fairways are firm and the greens, large and well contoured, ask for the right angle of approach far more than raw length. The wind off the Forth is a constant companion, and the par 3s in particular are a joy. It has earned its place as an Open Championship final qualifying venue, which tells you the test is real, yet it remains a welcoming, walkable club course in the heart of Scotland's richest stretch of links land.
Gullane No 2 at a glance
- Opened
- 1898
- Designer
- Willie Park Jr
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 6,390 yds
- Green fee
- From 85 pounds
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Gullane Golf Club and leading course databases: Willie Park Jr, opened 1898, par 71, about 6,390 yards. Indicative 2026 visitor green fees are around 85 pounds on weekdays and 125 pounds at weekends for 18 holes, per the club's published 2026 rates. Fees change by season and day; always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The character of the No 2 is set by the hill. The opening holes ease you in along the lower ground before the course begins its climb, and by the third green, perched high on Gullane Hill, you are standing at one of the finest viewpoints in Scottish golf, with a 360 degree sweep inland, along the coast and out across the Firth of Forth to the kingdom of Fife. The fifth tee delivers a similar reward, the great bay and the distant golfing lands beyond the water laid out below.
The short holes are the heart of the round. The eleventh is the pick, a one shotter with a glorious outlook where club selection is everything, the green sitting just out of easy reach when the wind gets up. Across the course the greens average a generous size and run true, but their contours and the firm approaches mean the player who works out the correct line and length is always rewarded over the one who simply hits it far.
The back nine returns down the hill with the wind often at your back, tempting you to attack, but the bunkering, more than a hundred of them across the course, and the run offs around the greens keep you honest. It closes in the heart of the village, a proper links finish within a few steps of the clubhouse and the other two Gullane courses.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public access club course; visitors welcome with tee times bookable in advance, subject to member priority |
| Green fee | Around 85 pounds on weekdays and 125 pounds at weekends for 18 holes, per the club's published 2026 rates (indicative) |
| Booking | Book through the club or your trip planner; combine with the No 1 and No 3 for a full day at Gullane, and book well ahead for summer |
| On the day | Walking links golf; caddies and trolleys can be arranged, and the village clubhouse facilities are shared across the courses |
| Getting there | Gullane sits in East Lothian about 30 to 40 minutes east of Edinburgh by road, in the heart of Scotland's greatest run of links |
| Best months | May to September for the firmest turf and longest days; the course is exposed, so pack for wind whatever the forecast |
Access and fee details verified June 2026 from Gullane Golf Club's published 2026 green fee information; rates and policies change, so always confirm directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Gullane is a comfortable golfing base in its own right, with hotels and guest houses in the village and the famous Greywalls house beside Muirfield a short walk away. Many visiting golfers, though, choose to stay in nearby North Berwick or in Edinburgh and play their way along the coast, and both work well given the short drives involved.
The real luxury here is choice. Within half an hour of the first tee you have Muirfield, North Berwick, Archerfield and a string of other classics, which makes East Lothian one of the most concentrated golf regions on earth and an easy add to any Scotland itinerary.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Gullane No 2.
Build an East Lothian golf trip
We book the Gullane tee times across all three courses, line up Muirfield, North Berwick and the rest of the coast, and arrange a base in the village or in Edinburgh around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Gullane No 2 questions
Who designed Gullane No 2?
Gullane No 2 was laid out by Willie Park Jr and opened in 1898. Park was a two time Open champion and one of the foremost architects of the era, also responsible for Sunningdale Old, and he built the course across the slopes of Gullane Hill.
What is the par and length of Gullane No 2?
The No 2 is a par 71 measuring about 6,390 yards. It is a classic links with large greens, more than a hundred bunkers and a constant wind off the Firth of Forth.
How much does it cost to play Gullane No 2 in 2026?
Indicative 2026 visitor rates are around 85 pounds on weekdays and 125 pounds at weekends for 18 holes, per the club's published green fee information. Rates change by season and day, so always confirm directly before booking.
Can visitors play Gullane No 2?
Yes. Gullane is a public access club and welcomes visitors with advance tee times, subject to member priority. Many golfers play all three Gullane courses, and the No 2 is regularly used for Open Championship final qualifying.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designers, opening years, par, yardage and indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.