Gullane No 2

Explore Gullane No. 2's Willie Park design, Aberlady Bay signature holes, 2027 fees, scorecard and links golf around East Lothian.

Gullane No. 2 shares the village, firm coastal turf and sweeping Firth of Forth views of its more famous neighbor. But this eighteen has an identity of its own. Willie Park Jr. designed it in 1898, sending fairways across Gullane Hill and toward the dunes above Aberlady Bay, with strategic sand and steep approaches interrupting the apparently generous landing areas.

The club's rated 6,396-yard configuration plays to par 71, but its challenge is not primarily length. The fourth drops toward five cross bunkers; the eighth is guarded by more sand beside the nature reserve; and the loop of eleven through thirteen rewards patience in the dunes. Each changes the calculation of where the drive should finish.

Why You Should Play Gullane No. 2

Some outstanding links courses become more appreciated after the visitor stops comparing them with their celebrated neighbors. No. 2 deserves to be played as Willie Park Jr.'s own eighteen, not as a compromise because a golfer could not get onto No. 1. The natural land falls and rises through the route, and the bunkers repeatedly influence the approach before the drive is struck.

The fourth is a long downhill par four with five cross bunkers defending the entrance to the green. The eighth, above Aberlady Bay, makes a different demand with three cross bunkers, a sloping green and a much narrower landing corridor than the view suggests. Farther around, holes eleven through thirteen explore more remote dunes, mixing an exposed downhill par three with raised and two-tiered greens. It is the sort of varied architecture that rewards playing with a plan.

Golfers who enjoy a firm-ground approach, shaping shots across wind and deciding when to accept a safe side of the fairway are well suited to No. 2. Those who expect a sequence of spectacular clifftop carries will find the course more understated. The challenge comes from angles, wind and recovery shots rather than raw brutality. Its scorecard offers enough scoring chances for a wide range of handicaps, although a player who routinely attacks every flag can quickly turn those opportunities into difficult bunker recoveries.

The contrast with Gullane No. 3 is also instructive: No. 2 has the length and rhythm of a traditional full-size championship links, while No. 3 relies on smaller greens and more frequent short-iron decisions. Playing both can be a stronger day of golf than the labels 'second' and 'third' might suggest.

The Fourth and Eighth: Two Lessons in Angles

Willie Park Jr.'s No. 2 uses the shared Gullane linksland to reward exact position without relying on championship length. As the course climbs above the village, the view opens toward Aberlady Bay and the wind becomes a more persistent part of each decision. Cross bunkers and sloping fairways provide the real architecture: driving into a useful angle matters more than simply reaching the centre of the fairway.

The fourth, a long par four from elevated ground, is an instructive example. A strong downhill tee shot can be attractive, but a row of cross bunkers changes what counts as an intelligent line into the green. Taking trouble on without considering the second shot may produce a worse chance of par than a slightly shorter, better placed drive.

Higher ground leads toward a remarkable loop overlooking the dunes and nature reserve, where par threes and contoured targets test trajectory and first bounce. This is a complete links experience, not a collection of individual hole instructions: the best golfers keep making decisions about where their next shot should begin.

The Return to Gullane Village

The fourteenth is played from a spectacular elevated tee and demands accurate placement into a changing breeze. The fifteenth is a shorter par three that can punish an imprecise flight. Then the sixteenth, a 527-yard par five, rises back toward the crest of Gullane Hill and requires two well-positioned longer shots to offer a chance at the green.

The final two holes return to Gullane village as shorter par fours. The eighteenth, 305 yards on the course card, may offer a birdie chance even to an average hitter who avoids the trouble and chooses a sensible approach. It is a pleasing finish to a round that has already asked for a good deal of strategic work.

No. 2's closing stretch can produce quite different scores according to the wind. The best way to finish is to remain patient: a carefully positioned drive usually matters more than trying to recover several shots at once.

Willie Park Jr., Early Gullane and Championship Use

Gullane Golf Club was founded in 1882 as golf in the village grew around older linksland. By the 1890s, demand justified a second eighteen. The club invited Willie Park Jr. of Musselburgh, who had won The Open in 1887 and 1889, and No. 2 opened in 1898. Park became one of the era's most significant course architects, with designs that often emphasized strategic sand and the natural options offered by the land.

No. 2 has hosted national amateur championships and Open Final Qualifying, an appropriate record for its quality. Selected holes also appeared in the later Scottish Open composite layout. Results from those composite championships, or from events contested solely on No. 1, should not be presented as if they belonged entirely to No. 2.

The design still makes a strong case on its own. One hundred years of improvements in club and ball technology have not removed the importance of the angles Park established between fairway bunker, contour and green.

2027 Green Fees, Rating and Caddies

The 2027 standard visitor rate for a single round on No. 2 is £110 weekdays, £130 weekend mornings, or £115 on weekends from noon. Seasonal reductions include £80 winter weekdays in January–March and November–December, £95 April and October weekdays, and £85 weekday twilight golf from 3:36 p.m. April–September. Weekend reductions have their own date and time restrictions; verify the exact tariff for the tee time selected.

The No. 2 plus No. 3 combination day ticket costs £130 on weekdays and £165 at weekends for one round on each in 2027. It is not a single-round green fee. Other all-day and three-course tickets are priced separately.

A 2025 rated configuration measures 6,396 yards (5,849 metres), par 71, with Course Rating 71.0 and Slope 126. It has three par threes, thirteen par fours and two par fives. Course Rating 71.0 and Slope 126 belong to the stated 6,396-yard configuration; they should not be transferred to another tee length.

Caddies are optional and must be requested in advance. In 2026, an individual caddie cost £75 per round, plus gratuity, paid directly in cash; confirm the current charge when booking. Forecaddies are not permitted, and ride-on buggies require medical certification. Personal motorized buggies are not permitted.

A Two-Course Day and the Wider East Lothian Coast

Gullane No. 2 and Gullane No. 3 share The Links visitor clubhouse, practice facilities and the short walk back toward Gullane village. The local pubs and restaurants give the destination the atmosphere of a real Scottish golf community, unlike a remote private resort. Gullane No. 1 remains the best-known championship routing, but No. 2 can be every bit as satisfying for golfers who prefer a more subtle full-length links.

An East Lothian golf trip can also include North Berwick West Links, with famously inventive green sites, Kilspindie, close to the shores of Aberlady Bay, and Dunbar for longer seaside golf. The variety is a compelling reason to remain in the region for several days.

The Course's Own Reward

The long downhill fourth, the difficult entrance to eight and the views from eleven to thirteen are all memorable. But the greater pleasure is the chance to see how Park used old links ground to reward golfers who plan the next stroke before playing this one.

Common Questions

Is Gullane No. 2 an 18-hole course?

Yes. Gullane No. 2 is its own eighteen-hole links designed by Willie Park Jr. and opened in 1898. The rated configuration measures 6,396 yards and plays to par 71. It has separate holes and tee times from No. 1 and No. 3, though the club facilities are shared.

Who designed Gullane No. 2 and when did it open?

Willie Park Jr., an Open champion in 1887 and 1889, laid out No. 2 for Gullane Golf Club in 1898. Its bunkering and naturally sloped land are central to the strategy. No. 3 was instead developed later through the club committee and greenkeeping team, so the two have different architectural origins.

What are Gullane No. 2 green fees in 2027?

A standard 18-hole round costs £110 on weekdays, £130 at weekends before noon and £115 after noon. Seasonal offers include winter weekday rounds at £80 and April or October weekdays at £95. Special twilight and weekend discounts have date and time restrictions, so check the exact rate when reserving.

What are Gullane No. 2's Course Rating and Slope?

The 6,396-yard, par-71 configuration has Course Rating 71.0 and Slope 126. These figures apply only to that particular rated tee setup.

Which are the signature holes at Gullane No. 2?

The downhill fourth has an approach over five cross bunkers, and the eighth plays into a sloping green defended by three more, with nature-reserve views. The downhill par-three eleventh begins a remarkable three-hole loop among the dunes, followed by raised and two-tiered greens at twelve and thirteen.

Was Gullane No. 2 used for the Scottish Open?

Yes. The seventh and eighth were among the selected No. 2 holes included in Gullane's composite Scottish Open routing. The tournament was not played entirely on No. 2. Separately, the course has hosted national amateur championships and Open Final Qualifying, giving it a strong record independent of No. 1.

Is it possible to play Gullane No. 2 and No. 3 on the same day?

Yes. In 2027, the No. 2 and No. 3 combined day ticket costs £130 on weekdays or £165 at weekends. That covers a round on each distinct course, not a single round on No. 2. It makes an excellent pairing for golfers interested in different full-length and shorter links approaches.

How much is a caddie at Gullane No. 2?

In 2026, an individual caddie cost £75 per round, plus gratuity. Confirm the current service price when arranging the round. Caddies are optional, must be booked ahead and paid directly. Gullane does not permit forecaddies.

Are golf buggies allowed at Gullane No. 2?

A ride-on buggy is available only when the golfer presents medical documentation in advance, and personal motorized buggies are prohibited. Most visitors walk the links, with push or electric trolleys available for hire subject to rules and availability. Arrange accessibility needs with the club before travel.

Where does Gullane No. 2 fit in an East Lothian golf trip?

Gullane village is an excellent base for a traditional golf holiday, with pubs, restaurants and shared practice facilities. Combine No. 2 with No. 3 or with North Berwick, Kilspindie and Dunbar for distinct examples of East Lothian links architecture. No. 1 offers the club's most famous championship course.