Like the other two layouts at the venue, the No.3 Course at the Gullane Golf Club is a proper links test. Without doubt, it is not a course where driver will be necessary off every tee. The No.3 Course at Gullane comes in at less than 5,300 yards. However, don’t be fooled into thinking this will be a walk in the park. The No.3 is essentially an 80% version of its two bigger siblings. The conditioning is the same, the greens are excellent, and it is a course that requires good approach play if you are to succeed.
As with a lot of the par 4s on the No.3 Course, you have to make a decision on the opening tee box. There is a path running across the fairway at the 220-yard mark. Do you stay short of it? Do you go for it and try and clear it? From there, the green is guarded by two bunkers. The first of the glorious sextet of short holes comes next. The 2nd is only 145 yards, and the green sits in somewhat of a bowl, with mounds at the back helping to bring your ball back towards the surface. It is rare that a par 4 of less than 300 yards will be the Stroke Index 5, but that is the case with the 3rd on the No.3 Course. Longer hitters might fancy their chances on this 293-yard hole, but the safe play is with a fairway wood or long iron to find the fairway.
On the card, the 4th is only 250 yards. However, this is where the ascent of Gullane Hill starts, so it plays much further than its yardage. Take at least one club more on the approach. Once you’ve made the top of the hill, you can enjoy the panoramic views of the region, with many a golf course in view at all angles. The 5th is another short par 4, and one where laying up is the sensible approach – just avoid the two fairway bunkers at the 210-yard mark. The Stroke Index 1 on the No.3 Course is the 6th. A 345-yard par 4 with three fairway bunkers, the green then slopes from back to front to make a two-putt tricky. A tee shot of 240 yards is perfect down 7, as the fairway is split in two by a trio of cross bunkers. From there, you will have less than 80 yards in to the green, making this a good birdie chance.
The 8th is the next of the par 3s. At 165 yards and with a two-tiered green, club selection is crucial. Find yourself either putting, or playing out of the back right bunker down the slope, and a bogey or worse could be on the cards. A generous fairway awaits off the 9th tee, with a fairway bunker around 235 yards away. The green is 30 yards long, but rather narrow, so accuracy is vital with your approach. The back nine begins with the layout’s longest hole. 10 is a 450-yard par 4 that, although straight, presents plenty of difficulty. Firstly, the drive has to be good and accurate down what is a narrow fairway. Then, the approach is played to a small target, guarded by two bunkers. A four here is a very good score.
11 is the first of the four short holes on the back nine. It is only 135 yards, but the green is shallow, so hitting the right distance is the key, especially to cover the two bunkers that sit in front of the green. The other three par 3s on the closing side of the No.3 Course come at 13, 15 and 18. The former is the longest of the par 3s on the layout, but is usually played with the prevailing wind at your back to make it slightly easier. The three pot bunkers by the green are still to be avoided. The 15th is arguably the best of the short holes. Depending on the wind direction, you could be hitting 3-wood or pitching wedge into this 175-yard par 3, The centre of the green sits in a bowl, so if you can make good contact, there is a chance of finishing right by the flag.
12 is a dog-leg right par 4, with a sole bunker on the outside corner of the dog-leg. Avoid that, and you will have a good view of the putting surface. The 14th is the only par 5 on the course, and yet still shorter than the 10th. It is 443 yards, but plays as the Stroke Index 2 on the No.3 Course at Gullane. One fairway bunker around 210 yards is the only real danger off the tee for most, with another trap almost 300 yards away down the right side. There are more bunkers lurking further down, but the majority will fancy their chances of making this green in two and having an eagle putt.
The closing stretch on the No.3 Course begins with the par 4 16th. It moves slightly from left-to-right after the tee shot, which is played from next to the main road. Avoid the fairway bunker at the 240-yard mark and you’re in good shape to fire an approach at this green. 17 has a generous fairway, but approaches could be somewhat obstructed, due to the slope running across the fairway some 70 yards from the green. The putting surface slopes from back to front, so you could find yourself at the back if you’re not too careful. The No.3 Course finishes with the last of the par 3s. It has recently been converted into a closing par 3, to make space for a wonderful new short game area – which makes the most of the old 18th green. Now, it is a tough finishing hole, and one where a solid mid-to-long iron is required off the tee. It is an undulating surface, so be careful with your first putt..
