GOLF LINKS SCOTLAND - EDINBURGH GOLF AT BRUNTSFIELD LINKS - 14th Dec 2004

The traditions of the Society date back to 1761 when the members played over Bruntsfield Links in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. At that time the bulk of the membership were the old Edinburgh merchants who would shut up shop and go for a game on the Links.
Initially, play on the Links was shared with the Edinburgh Burgess Golfers (now the Royal Burgess Golfing Society) and was limited to two months in the Spring and three months in the Autumn, the land being given over to pasture in the summer months when the grass was greener.

During the Society’s long life at Bruntsfield many prizes were played for – inkstands, a drawing room lamp, a set of Waverley novels, a set of golf clubs. The only permanent and established trophies were the Gold Medal, the Society’s oldest of 1819, which had to be played for in uniform (a red coat) and the Cairns Medal of 1839 which was expressly intended for play at Musselburgh. Play at Musselburgh was no new idea, not even in 1839. For years the members had been going there where the Links were open for play all the year round. There was also a strong Musselburgh presence at Bruntsfield where the McEwans and the Gourlays and George Robertson were in residence.

The records state that at least from 1862 a clubroom was rented in the Gold House, Musselburgh, for £8 a year. This was at a time when 4-dozen golf balls cost £2,8/. By the mid 19th century conditions at Bruntsfield were becoming more and more congested; the ever-increasing flight from Bruntsfield to Musselburgh had the members in a quandary. The Society converted St Peter’s Episcopal Chapel, Musselburgh to a clubhouse in 1870 at which time Musselburgh was the “Home of Golf”. A purpose built clubhouse was erected in 1886 in a row which contained the clubhouse of the Honourable Company, Royal Musselburgh and the Burgess. Inevitably, with four clubs sharing a 9-hole course, coupled with threatened incursions by the racecourse, there were problems. In a sense it was the Bruntsfield Links situation all over again. There were also new and powerful influences stimulating change, an accelerating improvement in the design and construction of clubs and balls and a consequent need for new and different golf courses.

At the autumn meeting held at Musselburgh in 1897 the Captain informed the members that the council were looking for land to build their own course. Negotiations were entered into with the Maitland family to feu land at Barnton Gate. Bruntsfield commissioned the founder of golf course architecture, Willie Park Jnr, a Musselburgh man, twice Open Champion, to lay out a course. The medal course measured 6775 yards, which was long for that time.

The site chosen must be one of the most attractive settings for any golf course in a major city with the spectacular views over the Firth of Forth. Dr Alistair MacKenzie was instructed to carry out reconstructions to a budget of £1500 in 1922 and over the years other modifications have been made. A major reconstruction was carried out in 1972-74 by Hawtree.

Improvements and modifications have also been made to the clubhouse over the last 100 years but notwithstanding such interruptions notable events have indeed occurred as well@ His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales became an Honorary member in 1924; in 1933 Enid Wilson and Walter Hagen lost to Jack MacLean and W.B Torrance (a member); in 1937 the Boys’ Amateur was granted courtesy of the course. In 1940 as part of the War effort, Henry Cotton and Dick Burton played a charity match for the Red Cross. Some 26 acres were given over to potatoes and returned to the Society in 1952.

Immediately after the war, in 1946, the Boys’ Championship was played and again in 1975 when Brian Marchbank beat Sandy Lyle in a notable final. The most recent championship to be held over the course was the 1998 Scottish Youths. Over the years the Society has been renowned for the friendliness of the members, the excellence of the cuisine and the extremely high standard of the course. The subtle borrows on the greens have ensured that even the best golfers do not rip the course apart and the amateur record stands at 67.

Related Links

• http://www.sol.co.uk/b/bruntsfieldlinks/rightframe.html

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