Gullane Golf Club is celebrating a notable double after triumphing in two categories at the recent Scottish Golf Tourism Awards. The Club’s much-loved Course No. 3 (pictured above) was recognised after it won the category for ‘Best Golf Course from £31 – £60’ while Head Professional Alasdair Good and his team also celebrated the ‘Best Pro Shop’ award.
In further recognition, Gullane’s Course No. 2 was shortlisted among four venues for the ‘Best Golf Course from £61 – £100’ at the glittering event at Fairmont St Andrews.
While Gullane’s Course No. 1 is widely regarded globally – its profile further enhanced by hosting the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and Ladies Scottish Open in 2018, and the Men’s event in 2015 – the recognition for Course No. 3 illustrates the overall links offering at the East Lothian venue.
Designed by two-time Open Champion Willie Park Jr, Gullane No. 3 celebrated its centenary in 2010 and has matured to become a firm favourite among Club members and visiting golfers.
Enjoying some of the best views at Gullane across Aberlady Bay to the Firth of Forth and Edinburgh beyond, the short par-68 test (par-69 for women) is both spectacular and tricky, placing a firm focus on short game skills. It is the ideal venue for a fun game or for beginners getting into golf.
Accepting the award, Gordon Simpson, Secretary at Gullane, said: “It is a huge honour for all at the Club to receive this award for Course No. 3. The course is a terrific test of golf but, just as important, is great fun to play regardless of your age or ability. All the staff and members at Gullane take great pride in No. 3 and the condition that we present the course in 12 months a year. We look forward to continuing to improve and hopefully featuring in the awards again next year.”
The Awards night, hosted by leading broadcaster David Tanner, was the climax to the fourth annual Scottish Golf Tourism Week, staged by PSP Media Group and supported by VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise.
The Scottish Golf Tourism Awards are determined solely by public vote. When voting closed at the end of September, a record 40,000 votes had been cast.
The ‘Best Pro Shop’ award also went to Gullane, with Good and his staff providing a full range of the very latest golf equipment and apparel – together with the warmest of welcomes.
Simpson, who took over as Secretary at Gullane in April of this year, added: “Alasdair is a great Professional and has a terrific team around him. In my time at the club, he and his staff have gone out of their way to exceed customer expectations and this award is the culmination of years of hard work.
“In a day and age where Professional shops are up against huge competition from the high street and online retailers, this award shows that with the right people and correct attitude you can achieve great things.”
Carnoustie Golf Links were also big winners on the night, claiming the top award as Scotland’s Best Golf Experience’. Scottish Golf Tourism Week, which attracted more than 100 leading Tour Operators from across the world, has become an integral part of the ambition to grow the value of the golf tourism industry in Scotland from £286m in 2016 to £300m by 2020.
Tom Lovering, the Director of Scottish Golf Tourism Week, said: “The event is now firmly established as Scotland’s key golf tourism legacy event, showcasing the very best of the country’s golf product to a global audience and creating lasting benefits for the economy as a result.”
Gullane Golf Club https://www.gullanegolfclub.co.uk/