Royal Burgess Golfing Society

Circumstantial evidence of Burgess golfers playing over the 6-hole Bruntsfield Links near Edinburgh Castle dates back to 1735, strongly supporting their claim to be the world’s oldest recognised golf club with a continuous history.

Because of the short playing season at the old Bruntsfield course, the society moved to Musselburgh in 1874 where they could play all year round on the 9-hole Old Course with members of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society and Royal Musselburgh Golf Club.

Not surprisingly, this arrangement did not last long due to the congestion on the course and one by one, they all moved on to pastures new – HCEG to Muirfield in 1891, Burgess and Bruntsfield to Barnton in 1895 and 1897, Royal Musselburgh to Prestonpans in 1925.

Old Tom Morris gave his approval for the site selected to the north west of Edinburgh, offering his opinion that “the turf was so good that there would be no need to lay greens.” Willie Park Junior is credited with early architectural influence then James Braid extended the layout in 1923, when an additional 7.5 acres of land were acquired. Philip Mackenzie Ross is attributed with the restoration of the course after World War II, bringing fairways that had been turned over to agricultural use during hostilities back into play.

Barnton is one of the premier parkland courses in Scotland, maintained to a very high standard. The club takes great pride in the presentation of the course and visitors can always expect an enjoyable round of golf played on lush and manicured fairways so close to Scotland’s capital city centre.

Listen to James Henderson discuss the history of the Royal Burgess Golfing Society

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Many consider the signature hole to be the longest par four on the course, the 465-yard 4th hole. The tee shot must avoid bunkers down the left and out of bounds down the right. The approach to the hole has the protection of tall trees on either side of a fairway that narrows as it reaches the green – not many golfers will have the luxury of two putts for par on this hole!

Known as the Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh since 1929, the club proudly takes its role in the history and tradition of golf very seriously and displays of golfing memorabilia in their grand old clubhouse are well worth a view after a round on the course.