Golf History
Golf in the Beginning
It is not known when golf was actually introduced into Scotland. However, in historic documents golf was mentioned in 1457 and 1471 under James III. In the accounts of the Lord high Treasurer under James IV the following entries are found one of which is 1503 “to play at the golf with the Errol of Bothwell”..
Golf Clubs and Balls
During the reign of James VI (1566 – 1625) the business of club making had become one of some importance.
On 4 April 1603 William Mayne, Burgess of Edinburgh is appointed maker of bows, arrows, spears and clubs to the King. Golf balls were originally stuffed with feathers and golf clubs were made from wood with a smooth brass head.
When playing the game of golf, before every strike of the ball a shout of ‘Fore’ was shouted out as a warning
to anyone that may be out walking. Clubs and Balls were most certainly made prior to Feb 4th 1503
as Clubbes and Ballis were in the accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of James IV.
Ye Old Golf Tavern
Established (1456) Edinburgh
The first known Golf Club House in the world was at Wright’s Houses built as a ball and club makers circa 1376 next to Bruntsfield Links.
This building was the catalyst for the creation of first golf club, so it can be said to be the world's first golf club-house.
In 1717 Golfhall was built where golfers met before and after golf on the Links.
It moved 2 doors down and change name to Ye Old Golf Tavern where it stands today.
Bruntsfield Links adds 30 holes to the original 6 holes in 1890.
There was mention of golf being played in Bruntsfield as early as 1380's.
The Burghers (Royal Burgess) Wall Tablet shows golfers at Bruntsfield Links with Edinburgh Castle in the background.
​​Later it would be extended and became known as the Golf House Tavern and Golf Hotel at 27-28 Wright's Houses.
First Instituted Golf Club
Burghers (Royal Burgess Golf Society)
The Burghers were instituted in 1735 now known as Royal Burgess the Oldest Golf Society in the world.
The Rhind Stone pictured below is of two Burghers golfers with their caddies on the Bruntsfield Links.
When overcrowding of the golf course became a problem the Burghers (Burgess) moved to Musselburgh in 1874
and then made a final move to their present home in Barnton where they had a new golf course
designed by Tom Morris which opened in May of 1895.
It was 1929 when King George V by royal proclamation allowing the Burgess to change name to
The Royal Burgess Golfing Society as it is today.
Prestwick Golf Club.
The Club was formed in 1851, On purchasing two cottages one as a club house the other for the green keeper who was Tom Morris, who designed a 12 hole course and looked after the greens continuing his club and ball making. Tom returned to St Andrews hi home in 1864. The Club annual competition winner receives the Gold Medal which has been played for over 175 years. The First Open Championship was held in 1860 and the last at Prestwick in 1925.
A total of 24 Open Championships over the years.
​
British Open Golf Champions
Prestwick Golf Links
The first open golf Championship was held in 1860, was played over 3 rounds of golf consisting of 12 holes per round.
Willie Park beat Tom Morris to become champion. All the named winners on the plaque were local Musselburgh born.
Bob Ferguson had a shot named the “Musselburgh Iron” using his putter from of the green.
Old Musselburgh Course in the middle of the Race Course was the venue for the Open Championship on six occasions.
Musselburgh's Golf Champions
5 famous golfers from Musselburgh all champions.
Willie Park Snr- Mungo Park - Willie Park Jnr - Bob Ferguson - David Brown.
Golfer's Land
Canongate Royal Mile Edinburgh
Brown’s Close previously Golfer’s Land is a tenement building purchased with winnings from a 4 ball golf match between Baillie John Paterson and The Duke of York (King James VII) and two English noblemen. Will James was in residence at Holyrood in 1680, two English noblemen attached to the court of the Duke of York (to be King James VII) were challenged by the Duke to a golf match on Leith Links. The Duke’s partner was shoemaker John Paterson a descendent from a long line of golfers. The English noblemen were beaten and the Duke rewarded Paterson with the stakes that had been played for, which enabled Paterson to build a tenement building which he called Golfer’s Land. The building is no longer on the site as it was demolished in 1960. In 1664 Charles I (The Duke’s father) bestowed on the Duke of York the American provinces previously controlled by the Dutch now renamed in his honour, New York. The Duke succeeded to the crown in 1685, and died in 1701. In 1688, his wife Queen Mary gave birth to a son who was later to be father to Bonnie Prince Charlie.
British Golf Museum St Andrews Scotland
This museum highlights the world of golf its origins its players and the history of a game played worldwide. The game played in the 1300’s in Edinburgh and played to rules for the first time in 1744.
St Andrews Golf Club
The golf club was established by a number of local tradesmen who enjoyed a game of golf. In September 1843 The St Andrews Mechanics Golf Club opened.
New Golf Club, St Andrews​​
Tom Morris Plaque
The New Club was founded in 1902 as the only club at the time was for the members of the R & A who were the gentry. This was a club started by local 8 businessmen. Tom Morris was the first honorary member of the New Club. He unfortunately had a fall in the club which was fatal, on the 24th May 1908.
.avif)
.avif)
Tom Morris Plaque and Clock​
The Plaque of Tom Morris can be seen under the clock face of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club.
Standin close to the clubhouse is a statue of Old Tom Morris
Royal and Ancient Golf Club
Royal and Ancient Golf Club was founded in 1754.
The Old Course was made up of 12 holes playing 10 hole twice giving a 22 hole course.
In 1764, the R&A decided holes were too short and converted the first four holes into two holes.
Which created the now standard 18-hole round of golf.
​Swilcan Bridge
​The most famous bridge in golf on the 18th fairway of the Old Course at St Andrews. The Swilcan Bridge has been used to cross the Swilcan Burn since 1835. Previously called the Golfers Bridge This was for several hundred years the only way of crossing the burn.
Tom and Tommy Morris
Pilmour Links St Andrews​
​Tom and Tommy Morris‘s House
Tom Morris lived here from 1866 till his death in 1908. 4 times Open Champion and Keeper of the greens in St Andrews
from 1864 till 1903. Tommy his son won the Open Championship 4 times and lived here from 1866 – 1874
and returned in 1875 and died in this house.
​​​ Tom Morris Jnr. Grave
Cathedral Graveyard
Young Tom (Tommy) Morris was born in St Andrews Fife Scotland
on the 20 April 1851 – Died 25 December 1875 (Age 24). He is the youngest winner of the Open Championship (age 17). He also thought of a golf bag to carry clubs and balls, getting the idea when playing an Archer in an exhibition match. Tommy won the Open Championship 4 consecutive times a record in golf history.
(no golf championship played in 1871)
1868 Scotland Tom Morris Jr. Prestwick Golf Club
1869 Scotland Tom Morris Jr. Prestwick Golf Club
1870 Scotland Tom Morris Jr. Prestwick Golf Club
1872 Scotland Tom Morris Jr. Prestwick Golf Club
Tom Morris Snr. Grave
Cathedral Graveyard
Old Tom Morris was born in North Street St Andrews Fife in Scotland on 16th June 1821.
Father of Tom Morris Jnr. Both winners of the Open Championship on 4 occasions.
Old Tom was a club maker, golf professional and greenkeeper.
In 1864 he became the Keeper of the Greens and professional of Old Course St Andrews.
Tom Morris Snr died in St Andrews when he fell down the stairs at
The New Club across from the 18th Green on May 24th, 1908 at the age of 86.
His grave is on the eastern wall of the churchyard of St Andrew's Cathedral beside his son.
Silver Golf Club
In 1744 the city gave a silver club to be played for on 1 April annually by the Edinburgh Company of golfers.
The winner to be club Captain for a year and a gold or silver medal to be attached to the silver club
bearing the winners name and date of winning.
The Royal Burgess Golfing Society still play for a silver putter to this day.
​
Home of Golf
St Andrews is the 3rd oldest instituted golf club, which started in 1754 and has become the home of Golf.
St Andrews is also home to the oldest club makers where the art of ball and club making can still be seen today at the St Andrews Golf Company which was established in 1881.
​
No Bags in these days. Golf bags were thought of by Tom Morris Jnr when playing a round of golf against an archer.
He thought the quill that carried the arrows could be adapted to carry golf clubs. However,
when telling his father Tom Morris Snr the idea he said " it never catch on".
St Andrews
Cathedral burial Ground
Allan Robertson
Allan Robertson Professional Golfer born 11th Sept 1815 in Links Place St Andrews
and Died 1st Sept 1859. Buried in St Andrews Cathedral cemetery. He was known as
The first Professional Golfer.The designer of the Old Course and double greens.
Willie Auchterlonie
Willie Auchterlonie born in St Andrews 1872. A golf club maker and a professional golfer.
He won the 33rd Open Championship at Prestwick aged 21.
With clubs he made himself. He became honorary professional to the R & A in 1935,
and was first to be made an honorary member of the Royal and Ancient Club.
​​John (Jock) Waters Hutchison​
Jock Hutchison Plaque Jock Hutchison was born in St Andrews 06 June 1884 (John Waters Hutchison).
He became a professional golfer and won the Open Championship at St Andrews over 36 holes by 9 strokes in 1921.
The previous year he won the PGA Championship. He die, aged 93 in 1977.
He won the inaugural PGA Seniors' Championship in 1937 and inductee of the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011​.
Open Champions Plaque
Tolbooth Musselburgh
At the top of the steps of the Tolbooth in Musselburgh is a Bronze plaque which reads;
ROLL OF HONOUR | OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONS | WILLIE PARK Senior 1860, 1863 1866 1875 | all at Prestwick
| MUNGO PARK 1874 | at Musselburgh | BOB FERGUSON 1880, 1881, 1882 | Musselburgh, Prestwick, St Andrews
| DAVID (DEACON) BROWN 1885 | Musselburgh | WILLIE PARK Junior 1887, 1889 | Prestwick and Musselburgh
Old Musselburgh Golf Links
Musselburgh Links is situated in the middle of the Musselburgh Racecourse.
There is written evidence of golf being played on Musselburgh Links on 2 March 1672 but
in other books of history it is said that Mary Queen of Scots played at the links circa 1560.
The Musselburgh Links held the Open Golf Championships in 1874, 1877, 1880, 1883, 1886, 1889.
The Claret Jug was first played for at St Andrews in 1873. Golf is also mentioned in Parliament in 1457.
With golf being played on Bruntsfield Links Edinburgh prior to all the above dates.
Golf History
Musselburgh East Lothian
Golf has been played on Musselburgh Links from 1672. Due to over crowding of courses in Edinburgh
The Royal Burgess Golfing Society (Old Golf Club in World) of Edinburgh moved to 10 Links Place now Balcarres Road Musselburgh in 1875. Now used by Musselburgh Links “Old Course Golf Club” founded 1982.
Musselburgh Links is where the Open Golf Championship was played in 1874 and on 5 further occasions.
Musselburgh Golf Club 9 Links Place now Balcarres Road Musselburgh golf course was the first club house
at Musselburgh Links 1872. Became Royal Musselburgh Golf Club (6h Oldest in world) in 1876.
The world's first golfing competition for women took place in Musselburgh in 1811.
The Golf hole was first cut to the present diameter by Blacksmith Robert Gay
from Musselburgh in 1829 and became the official size in 1893.
.avif)
_JPG.avif)
Willie Park Snr.
First Open Golf Champion
Willie Park Snr, 1833-1903 was the winner of the first Open Golf Championship and a further three Open Golf Championships lived and died in Musselburgh at No 23 Ravensheugh where the plaque has been erected in his honour.
First US Open Golf Champion
This plaque also honours two further great Musselburgh golfers. Willie Dunn Jnr First unofficial U.S Open Champion and Willie Campbell was runner-up He became the first Golf professional at Brookline County Club in Massachusetts USA.
Willie Dunn Jnr
Willie Dunn Jnr son of a club and ball maker, started work at 13 as an apprentice club maker to his brother Tom.
Willie Dunn Jnr. first match was against Ben Sayers at age 15, also his first success 1881.
After taking part in the Open championship in 1883-84 and 86 he joined his brother in France at the Biarritz golf club
which his brother designed and worked at. Willie Dunn Jnr. remained at Biarritz for around six years.
He later moved to the US where he designed golf courses and took park in the first unofficial US Open
played at Southampton Long Island New York which he won.
The first official US Open was played the next year 1895 in Newport, Rhode Island,
where Willie Dunn was second to Horace Rawlins.
Willie Campbell Professional Golfer
Willie Campbell was a Scottish professional golfer. He emigrated to America in 1894. He finished in sixth place in the first
US Open Championship held on Friday, 4 October 1895 at Newport Golf Club in Newport, Rhode Island, America.
Archerfield​
Dirleton Links established 6 April 1869, a private course with a few holes until Ben Sayers extended it to 18 holes.
The Course was exclusive for the estate staff and tenants. Archerfield House was also a retreat for invited guests,
nobility and politicians which included Prime Ministers Arthur Balfour and Herbert Asquith.
The links were reborn in 2002 and is now two courses The Dirleton and Fidra combined Archerfield Links.
Braid Hills Hotel
First Golf Changing Rooms for Braid Hills Golf Course
The Braid Hills Hotel a historic building. was built in 1886 and has accommodated golfers for over a century.
Originally a place for golfer to change (a locker room) with Boxes to rent. In 1894 two window were unveiled with stain glass figures of Ben Sayers and the brothers Hugh and Andrew Kirkaldy. Andrew in 1889 tied for first place in the Open losing to Willie Park Jr. in a playoff. He also was runner up in both 1879 and 1891. Hugh however won the open at St Andrews in 1891.
There are also many other Paintings of famous people from Scotland's past in the hotel.
Braid Hills Golf Course
The Braid Hills golf course opened in 1889 and the first club to be part of the course was Harrison Golf Club founded in 1889 and remain at the course to this day.​
The Forgotten Great Sottish Golfer
Thomas Dickson Armour
THOMAS (Tommy) ARMOUR 1896 – 1968 Scotland’s most successful golfer was born at 18 Balcarres Street in Morningside and first played golf at the Braid Hills, a member of the Edinburgh Western Golf Club and Bruntsfield Links. Emigrated to the U.S.A as a teenager and became one of the great unremembered golfers. Winner of the British Open, US Open, U.S.P.GA. Championship, Canadian Open on four occasions and many other competitions.
Western Golf Club Braidhills
Western Golf Club founded in 1899 and are also based at the Braid Course was where Tommy Armour first joined a golf club in 1912 and his first competition win was in 1913 on the Braids golf course.
