From the top of Gullane Hill — the high point the No. 1 routing reaches by the 3rd hole — you can see Edinburgh to the west, the Firth of Forth below, and on clear days the Fife coast on the far shore. This is where the course sits. The 2009 and 2015 Scottish Opens came here because the hill position creates exposure, variety, and a backdrop that television welcomes; the wind that sweeps the summit changes the test on every visit. The routing climbs from the village on the front nine, holds the exposed crest for several holes, then descends through gorse and bent grass on the way back — elevation change and exposure in every direction.
The holes on the upper reaches — 3rd, 5th, 6th — are the ones that decide cards. The 5th is a medium-length par 4 along the crest where the fairway falls away on both sides; the approach is played from a lie that is rarely flat, to a green that demands an accurate line rather than brute carry. The 6th, a par 3 played back down from the highest point, is where the wind reversal is most acute — what was behind on the previous tee is now directly in your face. Knowing this before you step on the tee is worth a club. The descent back through gorse and bent grass is easier in theory than practice; the rough off the fairways is thick from mid-season onward.
The green fee runs £185–£245 depending on season. Handicap limits apply — 24 for men, 30 for women — which keeps the course playing smoothly. Gullane operates the three No. courses and manages visitor bookings centrally; the No. 1 tee times sell faster than the others and a 4–8-week lead is realistic in summer. The club is formally Gullane Golf Club; the course numbering refers to the three layouts sharing the same piece of ground, not three separate clubs.
No. 2 in the same day makes a sensible follow-on — a second, shorter, marginally cheaper round on the same terrain. Or a drive to Muirfield (10 minutes east) or North Berwick West Links (10 minutes north) for a premium second round on a different stretch of coast. No. 1 is the course to get right if you're making a special trip to Gullane; No. 2 and No. 3 are the ones for those who want value and frequency.
