Gullane No 3
The third of Gullane's three courses is the short one, and many golfers leave it as their favorite. A par 68 of around 5,259 yards opened in 1910, the No 3 climbs the famous Gullane hill for some of the finest views in Scottish golf, across Aberlady Bay and the Firth of Forth to Edinburgh and the hills of Fife.
Photograph: Gullane Golf Club, via Google
The verdict
Gullane is one of the great names of East Lothian golf, a village ringed by three courses on the same stretch of perfect linksland, and the No 3 is the one that locals quietly recommend. It does not have the championship pedigree of the No 1, where Open qualifying and the Scottish Open have been played, but it gives up nothing on charm. At around 5,259 yards and a par of 68 it is the shortest and most playable of the trio, a round you can complete in a brisk three hours and walk off wishing you could play again.
For the traveling golfer this is the course to pair with the marquee links rather than to skip. The ground is pure Gullane, fast running turf over a sandy base, and the routing makes the most of the hill, lifting you up for the views and then tumbling back down through gorse and humpy fairways. It is honest, friendly and beautifully placed, and at one of the best green fees in the region it is among the smartest value rounds anywhere in the Lothians. Build it into a Gullane day alongside its bigger siblings and the Muirfield neighborhood, and it will earn its place on the card.
Gullane No 3 at a glance
- Opened
- 1910
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 68
- Yardage
- Around 5,259 yds
- Setting
- Gullane hill
- Access
- Visitors welcome
Opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and course directories. The No 3 plays as a par 68 of around 5,259 yards, with a single par 5, the 443 yard 14th. Indicative 2026 visitor green fees were around 39 pounds on a weekday and 45 pounds at the weekend for eighteen holes; fees change each season, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The defining feature of the No 3 is the hill. The course works its way up the slope behind the village, and the higher you climb the bigger the reward, until you reach ground that opens out to one of the great panoramas in the game: Aberlady Bay laid out below, the Firth of Forth glinting away to the north and, on a clear day, the skyline of Edinburgh and the coast of Fife across the water. There are championship courses that cannot match these views, and on the No 3 you get them for a fraction of the fee.
The golf is shorter but never soft. With only one par 5, the 443 yard 14th, the test is in the par 4s and a strong set of short holes, where the small greens and the breeze put a premium on the second shot and the touch around the putting surfaces. The fairways tilt and roll the way good links fairways should, gorse lines several of the holes, and a tee shot pushed off line is quickly punished. Length is not the defense here; angles, the wind and the firm running ground are, and they keep a low handicapper honest while letting a higher handicapper enjoy the day.
What stays with you is the sheer pleasure of it. The No 3 is the kind of course that reminds you why links golf is fun: walkable, quick, full of half shots and clever recoveries, and crowned by a view you will keep stopping to look at. It is not trying to be a brute, and it is all the better for it, a round that sends you back to the clubhouse smiling rather than beaten.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Visitors welcome through the club throughout the season; the No 3 is the most accessible of the three Gullane courses and ideal for an extra round |
| Green fee | Indicative 2026 around 39 pounds on a weekday and 45 pounds at the weekend for eighteen holes; among the best value links rounds in East Lothian; fees change each season, so always confirm directly before booking |
| Handicap | A handicap certificate is normally requested; the No 3 suits a wide range of abilities |
| Walking and caddies | A walking course with a genuine hill climb; comfortable shoes and a degree of fitness help, and the views reward the effort |
| Season | Open year round, with April to October the prime window; the links plays fast and firm in summer and exposed when the wind comes off the Forth |
| Getting there | In Gullane village on the East Lothian coast, about thirty minutes east of Edinburgh, in the heart of Scotland's richest cluster of links golf |
Access and fees verified June 2026 from club and directory sources; they change by season, so always confirm directly before booking. Ask about an East Lothian golf trip.
Where to stay nearby
Gullane and nearby North Berwick are full of comfortable inns, small hotels and rental cottages within easy reach of the first tee, and the whole of East Lothian is so densely packed with golf that you can base yourself in one village and play a different links every day. Edinburgh is around thirty minutes away if you want a city base with the full range of hotels and restaurants, while staying out on the coast keeps you closest to the courses and the evening light over the Forth.
Most golfers play the No 3 as part of a Gullane day, walking straight across to its bigger siblings, the championship Gullane No 1 and the underrated Gullane No 2. From there the cluster opens up: the classic Luffness New next door and the seaside charm of Kilspindie at Aberlady make an easy and rewarding East Lothian trip.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around East Lothian.
Build an East Lothian golf trip
Gullane No 3 is the perfect extra round on a trip built around the great links of East Lothian. We plan trips through the coast, secure tee times across the Gullane courses and their neighbors, arrange caddies where you want them and handle the lodging and the logistics. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Gullane No 3 questions
Can visitors play Gullane No 3?
Yes. Gullane Golf Club welcomes visitors on the No 3 course throughout the season, and it is the most accessible of the three Gullane courses. Tee times are booked through the club, and a handicap certificate is normally requested. Demand is high in summer, so book ahead and always confirm directly before booking.
What is the green fee at Gullane No 3?
Indicative 2026 visitor green fees were around 39 pounds on a weekday and 45 pounds at the weekend for eighteen holes on the No 3 course, making it one of the best value links rounds in East Lothian. Fees change each season, so always confirm directly before booking.
How long is Gullane No 3?
Gullane No 3 plays as a par 68 of around 5,259 yards. It is the shortest of the three Gullane courses, with a single par 5, the 443 yard 14th, but the climb over Gullane hill, the wind and the small targets keep it an honest test.
Which Gullane course has the best views?
Many golfers rate the No 3 course as having the finest views of the three Gullane layouts. From the higher ground it looks out across Aberlady Bay and the Firth of Forth to Edinburgh and the hills of Fife beyond.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Opening year, par, yardage and fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.