Gullane No. 3

Gullane No. 3 is the third and shortest of the three courses on Gullane Hill — Willie Park Jr's 1910 layout, par 68, with more of the lower ground and less of the elevated exposure than its two siblings. The views over Aberlady Bay and the Forth estuary are still present from the upper sections; the round simply asks less of you to get there. The course occupies a middle ground: serious enough to require attention, forgiving enough that a mid-handicapper can play and enjoy it rather than simply survive it.

The fee — £55–£85 — is the most accessible of the three. For visitors who want to play Gullane but are cautious about the No. 1 green fee, or who want a second round in the afternoon after a morning on No. 1 or No. 2, No. 3 is the natural choice. It also works well as an introduction to links golf for those who haven't played much on this kind of ground — the conditions are representative without being extreme.

Booking is through the central Gullane Golf Club system. Weekend morning tee times on No. 3 are easier to find than on No. 1 at the same times. The course's par 68 is sometimes misread as a slight — it is not; the par reflects the removal of one par 5 from the reckoning, not any shortcoming in the standard of golf on offer.

No. 3 is also, quietly, the best course for juniors and beginners making their first serious links attempt. The shorter distances and friendlier bunkering give room to explore links conditions — the firm ground, the running ball, the wind management — without the immediate punishment that No. 1 delivers to the unprepared. The East Lothian golf culture around Gullane is excellent: the village has a bakery, several good lunch options, and the practice area is shared across all three courses and generally available.