Course Review
History
Muirfield is the home of The Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers who formed in 1744. These are the gentlemen that drew up 'the 13 rules of golf', the first code of the rules
Initially the Honorable Company shared golfing facilities at Leith Links (1744-1824), and then The Old Golf Course at Musselburgh Links (1824-1891), departing both due to overcrowding.
In 1891 Old Tom Morris was employed to design a course at the current site at Gullane and on it's completion, Muirfield replaced Musselburgh on the Open Rota.
With new land acquired closer to the coast, Harry Colt undertook a major redesign in 1922.
Colt showed his genius, notably routing the course in two loops of nine holes - the outer circle clockwise, and the inner circle anti clockwise - those ensuring each hole played with a different angle to the wind.
Muirfield as we know it today is largely Colt's design, however in 1935 Tom Simpson refined the course further eliminating some bunkering and green undulations- ensuring the course played hard but fair.
Championships
Muirfield first held The Open in 1892. It was the first time anywhere a championship had been held over four 18 hole rounds
To date they have now hosted The Open 16 times, including some very famous victories by Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo & Phil Mickelson.
The club has also hosted The Ryder Cup, The Amateur Championship and The Senior Open
Course
Muirfield is a very good test of golf, and known to be demanding but fair. It is unlike any links course I know.
Each hole is quite testing and strategic, but reasonably playable off the appropriate tees. Play decent golf shots and pars are not a problem.
However if you stray off line be prepared to be punished with long rough and deep pot bunkers taking full toll.
The terrain is not overly dramatic, and the holes are perhaps not as 'visual' as some, nevertheless Muirfield is clearly a quality championship course. The quality of bunkering is varied and straegically brilliant.
Playing Muirfield is a pure golfing experience!
Lunch in the clubhouse and a game of foursomes in the afternoon make the day even more memorable
Muirfield should be on every golfers bucket list.
It is a Travelling Golfer 'must play'
Notable Holes
Hole 2, par 4 - impressive wall to the left of the green and a cluster of bunkers right
Hole 3, par 4 - the fairway narrows for the approach and two big dunes frame the view to the green
Muirfield- hole 2
Muirfield- hole 3
Hole 7, par 3 - long uphill
Hole 8, par 4 - long hole with a rolling twisting fairway, and bunkers everywhere
Hole 11, short par 4 - gorgeous sea backdrop
Hole 13, shortish par 3 - a pretty hole with an armchair green surrounded by bunkers
Hole 16, par 3 - uphill surrounded by bunkers
Hole 17, par 5 - has a green nestled in a ring of low dunes
Muirfield- hole 16
Muirfield- hole 17
Hole 18, par 4 - the classic clubhouse as a background, and so many bunkers to negotiate along the way.
Golf Tours
Muirfield is ideally located in East Lothian where there are lots of wonderful historic links courses in close vicinity to each other. You can set up your base in nearby North Berwick or in Edinburgh, and happily play as much golf as you like. Courses such as North Berwick, Gullane, Kilspindie, Rennaissance Club are close to Muirfield.
Let us put together a golf tour to East Lothian for you.
The Travelling Golfer specialises in small group tours and customised self-led tours. We are based in Melbourne Australia and have over 35 years experience organising golf tours to places throughout the world.
Contact us now for a free consultation.
