Musselburgh - Officially the oldest golf course in the
world
2010 marks another milestone in golf history as
The Open Championship celebrates their 150th Anniversary
in July. Many visitors will be travelling to Scotland to
watch The Open and we recommend and encourage all visitors must add
a trip to East Lothian to their itinerary. East Lothian has a
long and prestigious history with The Open as well as offering 22
courses (both traditional links and classic inland golf courses)
that cater to all standards of golfers. Many will know the
Open Championship course at Muirfield, as well as courses at
Dunbar, North Berwick, Musselburgh and Gullane.
The Musselburgh Old Course situated on
Musselburgh Links is officially recognised by Guinness World
Records as the oldest surviving golf course in the world, and was
host to six Open Championships between 1874 and 1889, and is
situated just east of Edinburgh, providing easy access by air, rail
and road.
Documentary evidence records golf being played on
Musselburgh Old Course in 1672, earlier than any other course. Mary
Queen of Scots is believed to have played the course in 1567; its
origins however are probably in the twelfth or thirteenth
century.
The first tournament for women was held on the
course in 1811 and it was one of the three founding venues for The
Open along with Prestwick and St Andrews. Many of the golfing
legends have played there, including Open Champions Willie Park
Senior, winner of the first Open Championship in 1860, Willie Park
Junior, Tom Morris Senior and Tom Morris Junior, Willie Fernie,
Mungo Park, Jamie Anderson, Bob Ferguson, David ‘Deacon’ Brown and
J H Taylor.
Musselburgh Old Course Golf Club (MOCGC), the
only club at the world’s oldest golf course is hosting a
Celebration Competition from July 9-12, 2010 for those wanting to
experience a true taste of Scottish Golf history. The four
day competition takes place less than a week before The Open and
will be attended by Tony Jacklin (Ryder Cup, British and US Open
winner). “This is a truly unique opportunity for visitors to
play three challenging and scenic courses in East Lothian as well
as immerse themselves in Scottish culture and our history.
Our guests will help us celebrate the unique achievement of Willie
Park Senior by becoming the first winner of the world’s most famous
competition” says Robin McGregor, CEO of 1672 Golf Management
Solutions Ltd, event organiser and Secretary of the MOCGC.
“In addition to giving visitors a top-ranked golfing
experience we also have a traditional line-up of entertainment
including a Whisky tasting evening, Ceilidh(Scottish dancing) and a
Gala Dinner/Awards ceremony, it’s very important to us as the
organisers of this event that each guest leaves feeling they have
truly experienced the friendly and world-class hospitality Scotland
is famous for.” Full Competition details are available at
www.1672golf.co.uk.
The club also invites golfers worldwide to honour
their participation in not only Scottish golf history but the
history of golf itself by becoming an Associate Member of
MOCGC.
This exclusive Associate Membership provides
members and their guest’s full access to the historic clubhouse,
handicap administration if required, and the ongoing opportunity to
play the world’s oldest golf course. “Our highly
regarded Associate Members receive a wooden presentation box,
containing items, all of which bear the clubs crest and were
commissioned exclusively for the MOCGC; including a replica
‘gutta-percha’ golf ball, leather membership bag tag, leather
keyring, pitch mark repairer/ball marker, personalised certificate
of membership, golf discounts and special rates at other
esteemed courses and an informative booklet on the legendary
happenings that make it the place of pilgrimage it is today “, says
McGregor.
Fittingly, Tom Foggo, Captain of the world’s
oldest club - The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh -
became the first Associate Member, with other confirmed memberships
rapidly coming in from U.S.A, Canada, Japan, Germany, Sweden, and
Switzerland and makes. Associate Memberships also make a
fantastic gift for any golf enthusiast.
Anyone wishing to become an Associate Member,
currently only
£85 per year (Plus £14.99 overseas postage &
packaging, should visit www.mocgc.com for full details, or
contact the club directly on +44 (0) 131 665 6981.
