Luffness New Golf Club
Luffness New Golf Club is probably the oldest new course in the world. It was created in 1894 by Tom Morris. The original Luffness Links were on the west of the present course. Some members from the original club broke away to form the Luffness New Golf Club. The course includes nine original holes from Luffness Old Club founded in 1867.
The course is in Aberlady to the east of Edinburgh along the East Lothian coastline. It is in the august company of classic courses like Gullane, Muirfield and North Berwick. The Golf Club and course is quite unchanged and it can be a difficult course when the wind blows down the Forth. Luffness hosts the qualifying rounds for the Open Championship, when it is being played in Muirfield.
Luffness New is a good course for those who focus on the game and play straight. It has thick rough and distinctive bunkers that punish the errant short. At 6328 yards and par 70 it can be a tight course when the wind is blowing. The wind plays a significant part in the round and can change direction at every hole. The course is famous for its greens, among the best in the region. The superb fine textured turf consists mostly of fescues and brown top bent that provide tremendous year round consistency.
The fairways of Luffness golf course are in excellent condition and are fast and true. The first five holes are on the clubhouse side of the road, stretching out along the flat sandy ground. There are cross bunkers in the approach to many of the greens and the 2nd 9th and18th are the toughest. The 4th is a long hole with a deceptive hollow at the green. It needs a well judged approach. The 12th and 8th are very scenic holes with an excellent layout from the tee.
However, the signature hole is the 196-yard par three, third hole. The 6th is a delightful par three known as Quarry and is part of the original layout. The Luffness golf course climbs round Gullane Hill and the game is more challenging from here on.