“I have crossed the Atlantic many times to talk about golf and golfers...
and I never fail to stress the part that Musselburgh has played
in the growth of the game.” 

Laurie Auchterlonie, former honorary professional to the Royal and Ancient.

Key Facts

• Regarded as one of the birth places of Golf.
• Home course of Willie Park Senior - First Open Champion.
• Musselburgh Old Course was the first course to have holes cut and properly laid out.
• The first recorded competition for lady golfers was held at the Links in 1811.
• In 1829 a hole-cutting instrument was purchased for Musselburgh Links Golf course, which cut a hole on the putting greens 4.25 inches diameter. This is the first recorded use of such a device and it set the standard for the size of the putting hole used today.
• The Open Championship took place at the Links in 1874, 1877, 1880, 1883, 1886 and 1889.
• Great players of the past who played at the Links include Old Tom Morris, Tom Morris Junior, Bob Ferguson, Andra Kirkaldy, Mungo Park, Deacon Brown, Harry Vardon, J.H. Taylor, James Braid, Willie Campbell and Willie Park Junior.
• Sir Harry Lauder, the famous Scottish entertainer, caddied at the  Musselburgh Links when a boy.
• Holes at the Links have been copied throughout the world.
• The Gourlay family, who lived in Musselburgh during the 19th century, were renowned for producing high quality golf balls. They were based at the Links.

In 1816, the racecourse was built around the golf course and there is no opposition to this event recorded. Racing, apparently, moved from Leith Sands because of rowdy spectators.  It is important to emphasise that golf course and racecourse lived in harmony until 1984 when plans to construct a national hunt course were proposed which encroached on to historic aspects of the golf course.  These proposals eventually succeeded despite much local opposition, which resulted in the relocation of two greens and the alteration of two fairways.

However, little has changed here for hundreds of years and the unique flavour of golf in the nineteenth century is still very evident. Each year many visitors from around the world visit the course.

More information about the Old Course, written by members of HOOL, can be found here. Details about the planned changes can be found here. Further information is also available on the Musselburgh Links - the Old Golf Course website.

Last Modified:30/11/06