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The Royal Musselburgh Golf Club
Prestongrange House
Prestonpans.
EH32 9RP, Scotland

Parkland Course
18 Holes
Par 70 (White), Par 70 (Yellow), Par 73 (Red)
6,254 Yards (White), 5,867 Yards (Yellow), 5,587 Yards (Red)

Designed by: James Braid
Established: 1774 (Course in 1926)

The first 18-hole course that we played in Scotland was the Royal Musselburgh golf course. We went to East Lothian on our second day in Edinburgh and played golf at the Royal Musselburgh Golf Club in Prestongrange House in Prestonpans.

The Royal Musselburgh Golf Club is the fifth oldest club in the world originating from the nine hole Musselburgh Levenhall Links where the Musselburgh Racecourse is now located. The 9 hole Musselburgh Levenhall Links is still existing and has been a venue of horse racing since 1816. People still play golf at the golf course, and the horse racecourse surrounds the golf course.

When we finished playing golf, we went to the bar and restaurant, and had our late light lunch. A gentleman came to us and told us that he saw me taking photos while playing golf. He then invited me as he would like to show me a sort of painting collage of the five Open Champions from the club among them was Willie Park, Sr. whom I did not know at all.

The other four Open Champions were David Brown (1886), Bob Ferguson (1880, 1881, 1882), Mungo Park (1874), and Willie Park Junior (1887, 1889), the son of Willie Park Senior.

He also showed me the picture of Jane Connachan, a child golf prodigy, who at the age of 12 won the Scottish (Girls) International. Jane Connachan was also a member of the Royal Musselburgh Golf Club.

When we went to the British Golf Museum in St. Andrews, I realized that Willie Park, Sr., who was a member of the Royal Musselburgh Golf Club, was actually the first Open Champion. He won in October 17, 1860 in Prestwick. He again won at the Open Championship in 1863, 1866 and 1875.

I also saw the Musselburgh Silver Cup of 1774 at the museum. The cup was the only known 18th century golf trophy in the shape of a cup.

The golf course was a parkland course and was also designed by an Open Champion and a golf architect, James Braid.

The golf course was not really an easy course to play. It looked forgiving but looks could really be so deceiving.

It was still a long course for me considering that there were only two Par 4s which were less than 300 yards. The rest of the Par 4s were all more than 300 yards.

Nevertheless, it was still a nice course to play. And the people were really friendly.

For more information, visit The Royal Musselburgh Golf Club Website.