|
Traditional hickory golf clubs
Lionel Freeman, the Musselburgh club secretary
|
|
Background to
the course:
Type:
9-hole Links, with plans to expand to a full size 18
Landscape:
Views of the stunning Western coastal front are in parts
cloaked by trees. The incredibly flat, wind formed course
offers easy-going golfing activity within a racecourse.
Historic facts:
- Mary Queen of Scots played on the Old Course in 1567
before her be-heading at the command of her cousin Queen
Elizabeth I. Other royal visitors include a game by
James VI in 1603, and the not so royal Oliver Cromwell
set up camp on Musselburgh course in 1650.
- King James IV of Scotland, the first royal golfer,
lifted his grandfather's ban of golf (he claimed it
kept his subjects from their archery practice) in 1502,
although golf was still frowned upon; legend has it
that the 2nd hole was used as a burial ground for solders
killed at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547, to deter locals
from playing.
- On New Year's Day 1811, Musselburgh hosted the first
ever Women's Golf Competition, whose participants were
mainly local fishermen's wives competing for a new creel
and skull (fish baskets).
- The 4 ¼ inch diameter hole standard originated
from here, as this was the width of the cutting tool
used. In 1893, the R & A made the size mandatory
for all golf courses.
- Mrs. Foreman's Inn at the fourth green is a Musselburgh
institution. There was once a hatch to pass through
refreshments to thirsty golfers, and today they still
serve a fine pint of warmed ale.
- Six of the first ever Open Championships were played
here between 1874 and 1891, and five of the first twelve
Open winners were Musselburgh men.
- The Rhind Stone, a golfing scene carved in stone by
artist John Rhind, a member of former club Edinburgh
Burgess, once occupy the exterior wall of the 1891 built
clubhouse, where the current Five Open Champions carving
(depicting the faces of the five champions from Musselburgh)
now sits. |
|
Score card
Address:
Musselburgh Links, The Old Golf Course, Balcarres Road,
Musselburgh, EH21 7SD
Website:
www.musselburgholdlinks.co.uk
Phone:
+44 (0)131 665 5438
Courses & length:
The Old Course: 9 holes, 2684 for men, 2665 for ladies.
Tee times:
8am to 8pm summertime. In winter 8am till dusk.
Handicap:
None
Green fees:
£8.50 ($17) on weekdays, £9 ($16) on weekends
throughout the year.
Other costs:
Hickory clubs £24 ($40), modern £15 ($25).
Trolleys £4 ($7) per round.
Facilities:
The clubhouse has a bar with snacks available. The starters
hut provides both modern and historic hickory clubs
and trolleys.
Location:
In East Lothian on the eastern outskirts of Edinburgh
which is served by an international airport (EDI). If
traveling by car, Musselburgh is well signposted from
the A1 and the A720 Edinburgh by-pass. Local rail stations
are Musselburgh or Wallyford.
|
