The Ultimate Golf Playground?
November 9th, 2010 No Comments
Hole #12, Gullane #1, Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
As a golfer, have you ever dreamed of a place where golf is integral in each and every day and where the land is resplendent with one fabulous golf hole after another? Of a place where the views as you play are unrivalled and the appreciation for the grand old game knows few parallels?
There are a few places in the world that could make a claim as being all this and you have to put East Lothian, Scotland, and its 22 golf courses, on that list.
We found ourselves at the Gullane Golf Club(est. 1882) today as we near the end of our Ultimate Golf Road Trip and it is easy to say that this area is a fitting spot to close out our incredible journey.
On an incredible landscape marked by a notable hill, three golf courses are laid out at Gullane, two crafted by Willie Park, Jr. himself with a third, #1, so enthralling that I could easily play it every day for the rest of my life and not feel a sliver of boredom.
We kicked the day off properly courtesy of a chat with historian Archie Baird who has written a book about golf on Gullane Hill, and has a small collection of memorabilia on display just off the pro shop at Gullane. Within minutes he had clubs built by British Open champions Jack White and Willie Park, Jr. in our hands while he conveyed the story of golf as it came to be. We were privileged to get the audience with the man who jokes that he has the ultimate golf collectible – his wife Sheila happens to be the great-granddaughter of Willie Park, Sr.
I’ll not be long winded in my post tonight as the pace of the trip is wearing on my health but I will simply say that when we were standing on the 7th tee at Gullane #1, the highest point in the region, and Allan Minto of East Lothian Golf counted out the total of golf courses that could be seen from that perspective, the number reached 14. That includes the vaulted Muirfield Golf Club, home to the Open Championship in 2013.
Add to that sightlines to Edinburgh and St. Andrews as as well as the entire vastness of the Firth of Forth and it’s significant islands, you can see why Bernard Darwin called it “one of the most beautiful spots in the world.”
More than 75 years after that statement was published in the Times of London, I could not argue the point.
I’ll have plenty more to say about Gullane in future editorial. It was that impressive.
Tomorrow we play our final round of our trip, a visit to the famed North Berwick Links.
Even fighting a cold and feeling the effects of a hectic schedule I am eager to see another greatEast Lothian course, as well as walk in the steps of the legends who have played the game before me.
To start planning your own Ultimate Golf Road Trip visit Ultimate Golf Vacations and Visit Scotland.
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