Golf in East Lothian
East Lothian is one of Scotland’s best regions for golf offering 22 courses which cater for golfers of all calibres and tastes.
From The Old Course at Musselburgh to The Open Championship course at Muirfield, East Lothian not only has a golfing history which is unparalled, but also offers everything from traditional links to classic inland golf courses. No matter what your preferred course, East Lothian will provide the discerning golfer with a suitable challenge.
East Lothian is widely regarded as the birth place of modern golf, and there is no better base to experience over 600 years of golfing history.
Documented evidence exists which proves the game was played regularly on The Old Course at Musselburgh as far back as 1672, and Mary Queen of Scots was reputed to have played on The Old Course in 1567.
The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, who now play at the famous East Lothian Open Championship Course at Muirfield, has records going back to 1744, and is the earliest known golf club – established 10 years before The Society Club of St Andrews Golfers.
The Honourable Company also drew up the first code of rules governing golf. Thirteen rules dating from 1744 formed the basis upon which the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews assumed responsibility and governance of the game. These inaugural rules dealt exclusively with match play and it is generally accepted that the earliest rules relating to stroke play date back to the time when Royal Musselburgh Golf Club established its Old Club Cup.
Numerous golf clubs were established throughout East Lothian during the 19th Century. North Berwick was founded in 1832, followed by Tantallon Golf Club in 1853. Dirleton Castle at Gullane was founded in 1854, and Dunbar in 1856 and Luffness Old in 1867.
When the Open Championship was established in the 19th Century, The Old Course at Musselburgh together with Prestwick and St. Andrews, hosted the event on a rotational basis and as the popularity of golf grew amongst the local population, the area enjoyed a period of growth in the number of golfers making a living from the game and those individuals manufacturing golf equipment.
A number of the most prominent and influential names in the golf have come from East Lothian, and after learning their craft over the links and parkland courses of the county, they have influenced generations of golfers the world over.
Significant Dates
East Lothian has been at the forefront of golf throughout its history, from medieval times to the present day. Some of the oldest and most challenging courses can be found in East Lothian, the original home of golf.
1567: Mary Queen of Scots was reputed to have played on The Old Course at Musselburgh.
1774: The Oldest Cup still played for today is The Old Club Cup at Royal Musselburgh.
1811: Musselburgh held the world’s first golf tournament for women on New Years Day
1893: The obligatory hole size (4½ inches) of today was made mandatory by the R & A and was purely based on the size of the cutter at The Old Course in Musselburgh.
