The town’s original course at the Links hosted several Opens until it lost its prized spot in the 1890s, and it wasn’t until around 40 years later that the town sought to build a new Championship-quality course that would put Musselburgh back where it belonged on the golfing map.
It was decided that there was only one man for such a task – golf course architect and Scot, James Braid. In the spring of 1938, ‘Monktonhall’, home to the Musselburgh Golf Club, was finally ready.
James Braid officially opened the course on 10 May 1938, marking the occasion with a four-ball alongside Percy Alliss, and Open champions Henry Cotton and Alf Padgham. Today, the balls they played with that day take pride of place in our trophy cabinet. You’re encouraged to take a look when you come and visit.
Musselburgh regained some of its old-time golf fame on Tuesday… and it was to a new 18-hole course at Monktonhall to which crowds were attracted, designed by Mr James Braid and laid out at a cost of £5,000. From far and near people came to see those exponents of the game display their mastery. In the evening the crowds would reach 2,000. Weather conditions were most favourable.
The Scotsman, 10 May, 1938
Though our neighbour across the water in Fife has become known as the ‘home of golf’, only our hometown of Musselburgh can be called the ‘Cradle of Golf’. The game has been played here for 500 years – perhaps more. Legend has it that Mary Queen of Scots enjoyed a game nearby in 1567, just a few days after the murder of her husband, which raised more than a few eyebrows; she was subsequently accused of having a hand in his death.
You could say that golf is in the local DNA. In fact, Musselburgh has produced an incredible five Open winners, including Willie Park Jr. and Bob Ferguson, and a monument to the latter proudly stands in the gardens outside our clubhouse.
You can still visit and play the oldest surviving golf course in the world at Musselburgh Links, a nine-hole course nestled within the track of Musselburgh Racecourse. And when you do, 18 holes here at Musselburgh Golf Club, with our wide and lengthy James Braid layout, offers the perfect juxtaposition to the diminutive size of the old links across town.
