The Mallard Hotel

The Mallard Hotel has 18 guest rooms, renovated in early 2021, with walk-in showers, comfortable beds, flat-screen TVs and reliable WiFi as standard. It's the sort of place that works well for golf groups, with an easy, unfussy setup that lets you focus on tee times rather than logistics. Some rooms look out towards the local courses, which is a nice bonus if you like to keep one eye on the weather for the next day's round.

The hotel is dog-friendly too, handy if you're extending the trip into a longer coastal break. You're also well placed for Gullane's three courses (No.1, No.2 and No.3), plus the wider East Lothian run of heavy-hitters and hidden gems, so you can settle in for a few nights and build a proper itinerary without constantly moving hotels.

For a multi-course East Lothian trip, it's hard to beat for drive times. You're within walking distance of Gullane's three courses and a short drive from Muirfield, North Berwick, Archerfield, Renaissance, Craigielaw, Kilspindie, Glen and Musselburgh. That's over 20 courses inside a 15 to 20 minute radius, which means you can base yourself here for three, four, even five nights and play a different layout every day without repeating yourself or spending half your morning in traffic.

Food and drink is straightforward and well pitched for golfers. The Bar serves all-day brunch and a strong lunch menu, ideal if you've got an afternoon tee time or you're looking for something quick after 18. For the evening, the Lantern Room offers a quieter space and a slightly more refined menu, without turning the night into a formal affair.

If you want to head out, the village is a short walk away for an extra pint or two and a change of scene. Add in the beach around the corner and you've got a base that's genuinely convenient for golf, social time and a bit of fresh air between rounds. It's comfortable, well located and geared towards early starts and late finishes, which is exactly what you need when you're trying to fit in as many rounds as possible across some of the best golf courses in Scotland.