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TOUR LIFE TRAVEL

Recognition for the world's oldest links, at last

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Mar. 24, 2009
By David Brice, Golf International Inc

Patience is a virtue, or so they say, but when you are in the running to become a part of the famous Guinness Book of World Records, especially in an "oldest" category, patience is also an absolute necessity. In the case of Scotland's Musselburgh Old Links, which has long claimed to be the world's oldest playing course, the wait has been more than a few centuries.

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Musselburgh Old Links is now officially the world's oldest golf course.
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Musselburgh Old Links is surrounded by a horse-racing track - sorry, no golf on race days.
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The 4th hole where Mrs. Forman's Inn has stood since the beginning, always ready to serve refreshments to thirsty golfers.
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Old Musselburgh invites players to try one round with hickory sticks.
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Old Musselburgh may not be much to look at - but what history book is.
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The Guinness people must have documented proof that you are as old as you claim and with accurate record keeping not so common in the 16th and 17th centuries, Musselburgh had a tough job. But thanks to an entry discovered in the account book of one, Sir John Foulis of Ravelston, it is proved that this local lawyer and noted golfer of the day, played Musselburgh on March 2nd, 1672.

Although Mary, Queen of Scots is reputed to have played Musselburgh in 1567, more than a century earlier, Sir John's careful record keeping was proof enough for Guinness to confirm Musselburgh is indeed the oldest golf course in the world. So it goes into The Guinness Book of World Records.

But Musselburgh has more than age to give it golfing fame, not the least of which is its record as once being a part of the elite, small handful of links courses considered good enough to host The British Open.

From 1860 until 1872, The British Open was played exclusively over the links at Prestwick Golf Club, located on the west coast of Scotland. St. Andrews was added to the rota in 1873 and in 1874, a third course, Musselburgh, was brought in. This trio of links courses would control The Open for a further 17 years when the championship was rotated exclusively between the three venues.

Whichever course was hosting, The Open would always be decided over 36 holes: Three rounds would be played when The Open was being held at 12-hole Prestwick, two rounds when the venue was at the 18-hole St. Andrews course and four rounds when Musselburgh, with its 9-holes was hosting.

After the 1889 event, the decision was made to eliminate Musselburgh from the rotation, substituting it with Muirfield, new home to the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which had previously been using Musselburgh as their home course. Not coincidentally, The Honourable Company had also contributed � 10 toward the purchase of the now famous claret jug that is today's British Open trophy. Political pressures took The Open away from Musselburgh, but during its run, it had hosted The Open on a total of 6 occasions.

Winners of those early Opens hosted by Musselburgh, produced Champions who are firmly engrained as the first heroes of golf; Mungo Park, Bob Ferguson, David Brown and Willie Park, Jr. When playing your round, bear in mind that the course record is still held by Willie Park who shot a 32 using hickory clubs and playing with a gutty ball.

More then a hundred years have passed since Musselburgh's final Open and during that period, most have forgotten the role it played in golf history, yet it still stands and operates as a course that made a significant contribution to the game during golf's formative years.

For anyone with even a passing interest in one of the world's most historic games, Musselburgh is a golfing antiquity that can still be experienced, providing a unique opportunity to gain an appreciation for how impressive yester-years golfers were. With the most basic of equipment they made some amazing accomplishments.

Located just east of the city of Edinburgh in the tiny, golf-rich county of East Lothian, the course is unlikely to impress visitors at first sight. Hemmed in by the horse-racing track that now surrounds it, the course itself remains much the same as it was in the late 19th Century- 9 holes of flat linksland with some interesting bunkering and a lot of history. Today's 9-hole layout is 2,608 yards, playing to a par of 34.

Appreciation for Musselburgh, now officially the oldest golf course in the world, is best gained by playing 2 consecutive rounds over the nine-holes. With a little pre-planning through your golf travel company, arrangements can be made to rent hickory shafted clubs for the first round. For the second round, play it with your own, modern day equipment. The difference in your two scores will amaze and undoubtedly give renewed interest in how those caddies and equipment makers of old, who were the golf professionals of their time, achieved such low scores.

But were they as good as their scorecards suggest? Golf is a game of honor and integrity and perhaps the spectators who witnessed those early British Opens, were not as honorable as the players they were supporting.

In the late 19th Century, Musselburgh was a center for golf club and golf ball manufacturing and the local citizenry were very much aware of the commercial importance of having one of their own as the acknowledged champion of the game. The locals had also gained a questionable reputation as zealous and often boisterous supporters of their hometown players.

It was not unusual for the overly enthusiastic, Musselburgh onlookers to crowd the course at the anticipated landing spot of tee-shots and (perhaps accidentally) assist the ball of a favored player, on its forward roll. Whether this is fact or fiction is beside the point. Musselburgh remains a course that played an important, though barely remembered role in golf's early history.

The opportunity to walk in the footsteps of those early champions of golf and relive their experiences is unique to this antiquarian and shouldn't be missed -- it's also a lot of fun and provides some interesting cocktail conversation back home.

For some suggestions as to how Musselburgh can be included in your Scottish golf trip, click here.

©2009 David Brice / Golf International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Golf International -- Providers of quality golf travel arrangements since 1988.

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