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Likeable LUFFNESS NEW GC

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Sean_A:
A late comer in terms of Scottish golf, Luffness New wasn’t founded until 1894.  Although, courses pre-date the club. The original course was located mostly on what eventually became the first Nature Reserve in the UK.  Some holes of the current course play over the original land.  To complicate the origins of Luffness even more, Golfers in Aberlady played over a nearby makeshift course which unfortunately was also a rifle range.  As one can imagine, the military firing range made life difficult for golfers. In stepped one Mr Hope, the Laird of Luffness, who engaged Old Tom Morris to build a course in 1867 which would be known as Luffness.  Issues arose when it was discovered this course encroached on Gullane Common.  Being an unsatisfactory situation a new course was built, yet again with the help of Old Tom Morris.  This 5200 yard course was to be known as Luffness New GC.  For a few years the two clubs co-existed on adjacent courses until the Aberlady golfers returned to the rifle range site adjacent to Craigielaw Farm (part of which is now a course and upscale housing estate) and created Kilspindie GC by 1899 using a course designed by Willie Park Jr and Ben Sayers. Once the Aberlady golfers vacated the site, the New club incorporated holes from the old course.  It is believed some holes on the current #2 and #3 courses of Gullane GC also incorporated holes from the old course. The course Old Tom Morris and Mr Hope built over 120 years ago is largely the same today as ten greens and twelve fairways remain in use.

Many will notice far more than 18 flags dotted about when driving along the A198 which splits the Luffness New and Gullane courses.  There are far more holes on the seaside of the road where many holes of the three Gullane courses are hidden by Gullane Hill.  Being adjacent to the three courses of Gullane Common, it isn’t surprising to find strong similarities between Luffness New and Gullane's three courses. That is, basically flat courses with the odd substantial elevation change. Luffness New does have some very interesting greens and a few holes with bunkering crossing fairways.  For the most part, however, the bunkering is rather timidly placed in right/left fairway positions.



There are five holes on the house side of the property, but the first four make up a wonderful boozer loop...1 par three, 1 shortish par four, 1 medium par four and a par five.  Given that we had a contrary wind from the north, the crossing bunkers on this original OTM opening hole (with a new tee some 50 yards further back) didn't quite have the impact they might.




The second played very tough and was only reachable for reasonably long hitters.  The tricky third (another original OTM hole) too played fairly long.  Because much of the course is flatish it can be difficult to determine green edges.  I have said it before but it is elements such as this which yardage guns mitigate and I think it a great shame.  In any case, the 3rd features a large green with significant surface movement. 
 

As if playing around a race course, the boozers' loop arcs beautifully back to the welcoming house. After a drive turning left over a slight rise, we come to another interesting green.
 

 

More to follow.

Ciao

Mark Pearce:
I'm really looking forward to this review.  I played Luffness in the Spring (well, a couple of days after the Elie get together was snowed off!) and liked it a lot.  Indeed, I think it may be the second best 18 in Gullane.

Tony_Muldoon:
Sean's  3rd picture is of a Par 3 for those that haven't played there.


I wonder if this shades it as the best section of the course.  It makes a great start but would also make a great finsh right in front of the clubouse. 5 is located well for a (tough) opening hole.


Liked the course a lot with a fine set of greens. The nearer they are to the Clubhouse the more interesting they were.

Richard Fisher:
SO pleased to see this, not least as I have been waxing lyrical about the understated charm of Luffness to Ran (and others) for several years now. The first time I went there, in 1997, we enjoyed it so much we played 50 holes (in March), then 36 at Muirfield the next day before driving back to Cambridge that same evening. Those were the days! I have been back at intervals since, with another outing booked for September, and have always had a really lovely time at a quiet and thoroughly congenial place for a game of golf, nicely in contrast with the general business of golf in this part of East Lothian. Looking forward to the rest of Sean's tour, and I do hope he agrees with me...

Niall C:
Tony

Correct, the 3rd photo is the par 3 third. We played it with a front right pin which made it challenging. The other time I played there it was back left which was even more challenging and fun. For the length of shot, for most of us there will be a fair degree of bounce and run and that greens allows you to do it well, particularly to the back left pin.

Sean

When you say it is flat I kind of know what you mean. It certainly doesn't have the humps and hollows of NB but it has plenty of more subtle movement and gradual elevational change.

Niall 

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