Musselburgh Old Links

Musselburgh Old Links holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously played golf course in the world, with records of golf here dating to 1672 and likely earlier play. The nine-hole links sits on common land at the mouth of the River Esk, bordered by the racecourse that shares the same turf. This dual use creates a unique setting where golfers and racehorses have coexisted for centuries. The course hosted six Open Championships between 1874 and 1889, when it served as one of the championship's early rotation venues alongside Prestwick and St Andrews. The compact layout plays across relatively flat linksland, with the routing requiring golfers to play each hole twice from different tees to complete eighteen holes. Several holes cross or run adjacent to one another, demanding awareness of surrounding play. The turf is genuine seaside links, firm and fast when conditions allow, though the setting lacks the dramatic dune systems of larger championship links. Mrs. Forman's clubhouse, a modest building adjacent to the course, serves as the traditional nineteenth hole. Musselburgh represents golf in its most elemental form, played on public ground where the game's early rules and customs developed. Old Tom Morris served as keeper of the green here before moving to St Andrews, and the course remains part of golf's essential historical narrative. The experience is unpretentious and accessible, offering a direct connection to the sport's origins without modern amenities or elaborate infrastructure.