A solid Scottish breakfast rests in our stomachs – American pancakes with Canadian maple syrup. Gullane has three courses – No1 has its own clubhouse. We stroll through the shop-starter-visitor’s clubhouse before finally finding ourselves in the holy of holies – the member’s clubhouse. Coffee and an open fire – a greeting of love. It is blowing – properly! This morning our leg supports will not be used. Neighbouring Luffness and the Godfather himself – Muirfield – create with this course a belt of good courses, with even North Berwick and Dunbar lying within striking distance. We can hardly stand on the 1st tee and land our balls on each side of the fairway. The member behind in commendable plus-fours smiles and says, “you picked a nice day.” The 2nd hole runs intermittently straight up Gullane’s characteristic hill, which is like playing up a steep half-pipe, with a tiny green furthest up. Into a headwind!
Second fairway, Gullane no1
It then takes off, a real fescue-grassed links with a brilliant sheen. The wind makes everything extremely difficult. Some par 4s up and down the hill demand shots without backspin and a stable stance. On the 6th, a par 4 – 324 yards, LINKS75 hits through the green and chips back kfor eagle. The wind increases and we find it difficult to breathe. Balls move about on the green and our putting strokes on this day are very shaky. Cross- and tailwinds take shots long. Headwinds punish us hard. On the 9th – a par 3 – into a angled head wind toward the sea and an incredible view, LINKS75 lands the ball to order – an impressive par! The group in front of us give up and head for the open fire. The wind makes it impossible to keep the ball on the green despite all possible efforts. The 12th – a par 5 – has a back tee overlooking Muirfield. We look out with concern but LINKS75 does away with the laws of gravity and successfully makes the green in 3. On the 13th – a par 3 – LINKS75 once again takes command over the wind and hits a perfect approach to a well-cut green. We move ahead in lowered postures, like trekkers into a stiff gale – and we experience aches in both back and knee. On the 15th – a par 5 – downwind we once again putt for eagle. On the 16th – a par 3 – LINKS75 once again manages to avoid all manner of trouble and carefully lands its ball on the finely-cut, round landing zone.
More sand outside than in the bunker at 16th, Gullane no1
The 17th is a ski slope straight down. On the 18th – towards the 1st tee – 355 yards, we hit cleanly and let the wind take the ball towards the greens rear edge – birdie. Three hours on the nose – a round to remember in fescue grass and wind. Quickly towards the open fire and a Belhaven Black.
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