The Cradle of the Game - An Alternative Travel Guide to Edinburgh
Most visitors to Scotland hurriedly grab their clubs from the oversized luggage rack at EDI and depart east for Muirfield, north for St Andrews or west for Turnberry... and who could fault them?
However, golf in the greater Edinburgh area isn't defined by the airport where most begin and end their bucket list golf experience.
What else can you do if you've been before or you've not been able to secure the tee times on the big courses? Embrace the living history that sneaks under the radar...
Musselburgh Links
If someone offered you a tee time on a six-time Open venue with one of the game's most iconic halfway houses how could you refuse? Yet most overlook the opportunity for a quick round on the oldest golf course in the world. Officially golf was played here from 1672 but some suggest it could have been as early as 1607!
Photo Courtesy Gary Lisbon
The links are so old it's now inland... the nine-hole course isn't what it once was and you may have to check it's not a race day but that all adds to the charm of something you can only experience here.
Five of the nine greens are reportedly the same as those played during the final Open Championship in 1891. Whilst Mrs Forman's isn't open now, you may be forgiven for wetting your whistle with a cold 'ginger beer' or some of life's water at the turn...
The course was the home to the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, Bruntsfield Golf Club, Royal Musselburgh Golf Club and Royal Burgess...
Royal Burgess Golf Club
Now you've played the oldest golf course in the world, you might as well play at the oldest golf club in the world... as luck has it, it's just down the road at Royal Burgess.
Dating from 1735, the current golf club plays its golf on a course advised on by Old Tom Morris but laid out by Willie Park Jr in 1895. James Braid updated it in the 1920's and it's been pretty much the same ever since.
The clubhouse, which opened in 1896, is a veritable treasure trove and golfing museum. Stop by the pro shop too as the logo is one of the best in the game.
Kilspindie & Hickory Golf
Kilspindie is famous due to the foundation laid by Tom Doak and the prominence of No Laying Up's recent visit. One of East Lothian's best-kept secrets still is undiscovered by many.
Photo Courtesy Joe Egan
With 18 holes on 70 acres, there are half-par holes in abundance. Great with modern gear, better with classics (persimmons and blades) and perfect with hickories.
Beyond the Bucket List
At Top 100 Golf Course we do love a rank - it's why we began... We're evolving to satisfy the desire of travelling golfers looking for the next golf adventure. Perhaps the unique experience of the oldest golf course, oldest golf club and a round with hickories at Kilspindie will be enough to look beyond the big courses to the north, east and west...