Gullane No. 2

Gullane No. 2 is Willie Park Jr's 1898 design on the same hillside as No. 1 — a shorter, tighter layout that rewards control over distance and gives a different reading of the same terrain. The 6th and 16th holes are the ones that stay in the memory: both use the natural fall of the ground in ways that require thought rather than just calculation. The course sits below No. 1's summit holes, which means less dramatic views but also less of the summit exposure when the wind comes in hard from the west.

The locals' preference for No. 2 over No. 1 is a common observation among members, and the reasoning tends to be consistent: No. 2 plays as a more equitable test, where a well-managed round from the middle of the fairway regularly outscores a longer-hitting approach that misses to the wrong side. At £95–£135, it is also substantially cheaper than No. 1, which for regular play is not a trivial difference.

Visitor booking is through the same Gullane Golf Club system as No. 1 and No. 3; tee times are more available than the flagship. The natural two-round day here is No. 2 in the morning and No. 3 in the afternoon — both 18 holes, both on Gullane Hill, total spend around £150–£220 depending on season. For those visiting the East Lothian coast on a budget rather than a benchmark day, No. 2 makes the stronger case.

The 6th hole — a par 4 that requires a precise drive over a ridge to leave a clear sight of the green below — is No. 2's signature. Locals who know both courses well rate it among the best holes on the hill. The 16th mirrors the challenge from the other direction: uphill, into the wind, with the green positioned just beyond the crest of the dune. Both holes were part of Willie Park Jr's original 1898 routing and have been tweaked minimally since — a sign of how well the original design understood the terrain.