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Musselburgh Old Course Golf Club launches unique opportunity for golfers worldwide
Following a preliminary announcement last month at a gathering of the world’s ancient clubs by Musselburgh Old Course Golf Club (M.O.C.G.C.) ‘The Club at the World’s Oldest Golf Course’, M.O.C.G.C. has launched a unique and timely opportunity for golfers worldwide to obtain ‘Associate Membership’ and become a part of golfing history.
Associate Membership provides full access to the historic clubhouse for the Member and their guests, provides handicap administration if required and the opportunity to play the world’s oldest golf course. Associate Members receive a prestigious wooden presentation box containing items, all of which bear the clubs crest; a replica ‘gutta-percha’ golf ball, leather membership bag tag, leather keyring, pitch mark repairer/ball marker, personalised certificate of membership and a superb booklet on the legendary happenings that make it the place of pilgrimage it is today.
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; Musselburgh Old Course holding ‘The Open’ six times between 1874 and 1889. Many of the golfing legends have played there, including Open Champions Willie Park Snr. winner of the first Open Championship in 1860, Willie Park Jnr., Tom Morris Snr. and Tom Morris Jnr., Willie Fernie, Mungo Park, Jamie Anderson, Bob Ferguson, David ‘Deacon’ Brown and J H Taylor.
M.O.C.G.C. was formed by a group of local men in 1982 determined to retain the venues prestige and create growing awareness of Musselburgh’s important role as a pioneer for the modern game of golf. Like St. Andrews, Musselburgh Old Course has been in the custody of the local authority East Lothian Council since 1892 sharing a similar vision and has maintained the relatively unchanged course in pristine condition. M.O.C.G.C. own and occupy the clubhouse originally built for the world’s oldest golf club in 1873 ‘The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh (1735)’. The clubhouse has recently been restored and refurbished and is a thriving ‘Members Club’ with regular competitions on the course for men, women and juniors. M.O.C.G.C. is proud to have a very strong junior section and the current East Lothian Ladies County Champion in its ranks.
Fittingly, Tom Foggo, Captain of the world’s oldest club - The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh, became the first Associate Member, with other early-confirmed memberships rapidly coming from Scotland, England, U.S.A, Canada, Japan, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland.
In announcing the availability of Associate Membership, M.O.C.G.C. secretary Robin McGregor advised:
“The world’s oldest golf course has a history second to none, it has been played by ‘Kings, Queens, Butchers, Bakers and Candlestick Makers’ – we aim to continue these values for all at an affordable level and for as many as we can accommodate. We would like the privilege of being able to play golf on the world’s oldest course and enjoy the benefits of our historic clubhouse to be available to all who love the game of golf and value its traditions. We have had worldwide interest from golfers wishing to visit M.O.C.G.C. and play the world’s oldest course and Associate Membership will make this possible.
“Anyone wishing to become an Associate Member (cost is only £85.00 + £5.99 postage & packing) should visit our website mocgc.com for full details, or contact me directly on +44 (0) 131 665 6981
“We are an ambitious Club with very achievable plans for the future. Associate Membership is a package of outstanding value and early applicants are virtually assured membership. Our plans when achieved have the potential to benefit the town of Musselburgh, East Lothian, and many of the other superb golf courses and facilities in the area. We are delighted that this announcement has been so well received”
About Musselburgh Old Course Golf Club (M.O.C.G.C.)
M.O.C.G.C. is ‘The Club at the world’s oldest golf course’ where at one time more than sixty clubs played including – ‘The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers’, ‘The Royal Burgess Golfing Society’ and ‘The Bruntsfield Golfing Society.’ M.O.C.G.C. owns and occupies the historic clubhouse originally built for the ancient club ‘The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh’ founded in 1735. Five Musselburgh men won ‘The Open’ no fewer than eleven times between them including the very first ‘Open’ held in 1860 at Prestwick and won by Willie Park Snr.
Musselburgh Old Course
On the very doorstep of Scotland’s capital city – Edinburgh, Musselburgh Old Course is renowned for being the world’s oldest golf course and one of the three original Open Championship venues, hosting ‘The Open’ on six occasions between 1874 and 1889. Five ‘Open Champions’ were produced here: Willie Park Senior, David Deacon Brown, Bob Ferguson, Mungo Park and Willie Park Junior, who won ‘The Open’ eleven times between them.
The 4.5” diameter hole, which was made mandatory by the R&A in 1893 and is used throughout the world today, was based on the ‘hole cutting machine’ used at the Musselburgh Old Course and invented by Musselburgh man Robert Gray.
The Musselburgh Old Course has 9 testing holes of total length 2874 yards, with a par and SSS of 34. The course probably came into existence in the 12th or 13th centuries and was believed to be only 7 holes.
Some key dates in its history:
1567 Mary Queen of Scots is said to have played on the Old Course prior to her surrendering to the Confederate Lords.
1603 James VI played here while visiting
1650 Oliver Cromwell set up camp on the course.
1672 Sir John Foulis of Ravelston, an Edinburgh Lawyer, lost £3.5.0 in a golf
match at Musselburgh
1774 Society of Golfers Silver Cup played for.
1788 Baillie John Cochran appointed Keeper Surveyor General of the Links.
1811 First ever Women’s Golf Competition played by local fisher wives.
1829 First hole cutting instrument in use on the course, made by Robert Gray, cost £1.00
1832 Improved to an 8-hole course.
1836 The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers take up residence at Musselburgh. They utilize the racecourse grandstand as a clubhouse.
1860 First ‘Open Championship’ won by Willie Park Senior of Musselburgh at Prestwick.
1870 Extended to a nine hole course, the new hole being 'Sea Hole' current No.5
1873 The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh build their new clubhouse at 10 Links Place, Musselburgh, (now 10 Balcarres Road) and the clubhouse of M.O.C.G.C.
1874 Mungo Park won the first Open Championship to be played at the Musselburgh Old Course.
1877 Open played at Musselburgh and won by Jamie Anderson
1880 Bob Ferguson won the Open
1883 Willie Ferguson won the Open
1886 David (Deacon) Brown won the Open
1889 Willie Park Junior won the Open
1891 The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers re-locate to Muirfield
1892 Town Council took over control of the course.
1895 The Royal Burgess and The Bruntsfield Golfing Societies re-locate to their own courses
1898 Scottish Amateur Championship held at Musselburgh
1925 Royal Musselburgh Golf Club re-locates to Prestonpans
1937 Last Musselburgh Amateur Championship played here.
1982 Musselburgh Old Course Golf Club is formed
1995 M.O.C.G.C. acquire their present clubhouse built for ‘The Royal Burgess Golfing Society’ in 1873.
September 1, 2008
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