Like a roller coaster that leaves you wanting to get straight back on.
Round £25. Par 34. Course Rating / Slope Rating (yellow) 34.1/127. Value (out of 5) – 4
I can’t imaging many golfers not wanting to be a member of Gifford Golf Club. This easy walking nine hole course in the delightful and upmarket village of Gifford in East Lothian has an alluring appeal. No sooner than finished the ninth you’ll want to go straight back on – just like a great roller coaster, that you see kids jumping back in the queue time after time.
I imagine there’s been quite a few people have gone round here at least 4 times on a summer day – I wonder what the record for most times played in a day is? This is no easy course though. The Slope of 127 will tell you that.
It was designed in 1904 and by all accounts has not changed much since being laid out. It has by all account only had 4 greenkeepers in the nearly 120 years of its existence; that would explain the excellent all round condition including the greens which were quite varied and all challenging.
Despite searching, I couldn’t find the architect, but I imagine it was a top designer given how well the course flows, the excellent hole framing and the variety of challenges presented.
The course starts with three holes played out into the prevailing wind – the first, a well bunkered par 3, one of only two par 3s on the course, needs enough club as the danger is all at the front. The second, although a relatively short par 4, is a difficult hole, where the approach shot into the green, is played over a small burn, and is difficult to judge – trust your distance device here. The third, is the SI 9 hole and is the only ‘easy’ hole on the course – I got a ‘blob’.
The remainder of the holes constantly change direction, making for great variety depending on the wind. Set in open and undulating countryside, you are exposed to the elements, so wind will normally be a dominating feature playing here.
I found the challenge of the wind when I played a little too difficult and I scored a 48, 14 over par, thereby using all my handicap on the “first” nine holes. There are a couple of the holes, which have significant alternative tees, to enable a “back” nine to be played, albeit I never consider this anything other than 9 holes. It would be like classifying different tee boxes as constituting a different hole.
The clubhouse is also delightful and give yourself time for the exquisite but homely baking on offer.
On having a discussion with the very friendly attendant/cook, I found out that many local resident of Gifford village – a very well heeled place – are members of both Gifford and Gullane. Now that does make me envious!
Worth playing Gifford.
Course Type: Parkland
Par 34 (7 par 4s, 2 par 3s) – “front 9”
Distance: 2882
Moly’s Gross score: 48
