Musselburgh Links
If you’re looking for real history, look no further than the ancient, free-draining turf of the Old Course at Musselburgh, which is located just six miles east of Edinburgh. The unassuming nine-holer, which is circled by a horse-racing track, was home to some of the greats of the game. Legends like Willie Park Sr and Jr, Mungo Park, David Brown and Bob Ferguson all made a name for themselves here. It is believed the game-transforming Guttie ball was developed in the club-making shops that surrounded the course and, as significantly, six Open Championships were decided at Musselburgh which eventually got its full complement of nine holes in 1870.
During a golden era when the tentative green shoots of the modern game were first emerging, Musselburgh was, without question, at the centre of it all. In fact until recently it was considered to be the oldest course in the world until a little-known revision gave the distinction to St Andrews in 2010. Today, you can play the modest layout without breaking the bank or making a reservation – in a surprising twist, Musselburgh is all but overlooked by visitors to Scotland making it one of the most remarkable oversights in golf. www.musselburgholdlinks.co.uk
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