Playing the Old Course at - Musselburgh Links

[Hatchman]

Well I'm getting excited about traveling to the U.K. and Scotland for several weeks in February.  I am thinking of adding Musselburgh Links to my list of golf activities while in Edinburgh.  This nine hole, par 34 course looks like more than I can handle from the back tees. Only two set of tees for men; Whites/yellows.  Starts with a 240/141 yard par 3, with another 240/220 yard hole 8 along the way from the whites.   You can hire and use handcrafted hickory golf clubs also.  What an experience it would be.   Any feedback on the course, clubs, etc, would be helpful.  

Course History

The earliest documentation of golf being playing on Musselburgh Links is from 1672, which has earned Musselburgh Links the Guinness World Record for being the oldest golf course in the world.  However, it has been reputed that Mary, Queen of Scots played on Musselburgh even earlier in 1567. Musselburgh Links was originally seven holes, with another added in 1838 and the full nine-holes coming into play in 1870. The first three holes stretched eastwards from the grandstand at the racecourse, the site of the former clubhouse of the Honourable Company. To the right is the main traffic route through Musselburgh, onto which the Musselburgh golfers used to slice their shots, then played back to the links using brass-soled clubs. The metal plate on the ‘brassie’ wooden club was invented in Musselburgh in 1885 to deal with such shots. At the fourth green there still stands Mrs Foreman’s Inn.  There used to be a hatch in the wall through which refreshments could be passed to the early golfers. The course turns northwest with the next three holes following the coastline and the eighth returning south towards the Home Hole, which is now the present first hole. The four and a quarter inch diameter hole became standard during the 19th century, its seemingly random size was just that, it happened to be the width of the implement used to cut the holes at Musselburgh and in 1893 the R & A made the size mandatory.

[DaveP043]

If I were there and had the chance, I'd do it.  This course hosted the precursor to what became the Open  Championship, when it was the home to the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers.  You know, the group that plays now at Muirfield.  I've never played the course, but I've had a pint at Mrs Foreman's.  I think playing there would be seeing a piece of golfing history close-up.

[Hatchman]

@DaveP043 that was exactly my thought process.  The history alone is worth the visit that day I think.  Thanks for the additional information.  

[DaveP043]

1 hour ago, Hatchman said:

@DaveP043 that was exactly my thought process.  The history alone is worth the visit that day I think.  Thanks for the additional information.  

Please let us all know how it goes.  A buddy of mine is planning a trip to Scotland for 2018, and we might be in that general neighborhood.

[Hatchman]

1 hour ago, DaveP043 said:

Please let us all know how it goes.  A buddy of mine is planning a trip to Scotland for 2018, and we might be in that general neighborhood.

Will do.  After Liverpool I'll will be taking the M6 to A74/76/70 route up to Glasgow by Ayr and Prestwick and the Firth of Clyde, then over to Edinburgh.   Lots of premier courses along the coast.  Then you have St. Andrews and all the associate courses on that side.  I've got an apartment let right on the Royal Mile so I'll keep my travel itinerary on file.