The noble heritage of a good walk ruined

Mark Twain may have said that: “Golf is a good walk spoiled” but there are millions around the world who say otherwise.

While there is some dispute as to who can actually claim to have been the first person ever to have hit something with a stick, what Scotland can prove is that the earliest mention of the sport comes from King James II of Scotland, who, in 1457 banned golf as it was taking his archers away from their practice.

And any mention of Scotland and golf can’t get very far without introducing the famous Leith Links. First mentioned in 1552 during a dispute between the rival “cordiners” (cobblers) of the Canongate and the cordiners and “gouff” ball makers of North Leith. This reference not only establishes the playing of golf on the Links in the 16th century, but also suggests that if cobblers were involved, then the equipment used was bespoke, and a long way from random hitting of round stones with sticks.

Edinburgh records also mention the ongoing complaint by the churches that too many people were giving up their pews on a Sunday in order to play on the Links. In the 16th century this was punished by a fine of 20 shilling to be paid “to the poor” by anyone caught skipping Kirk. This continued up until the 18th century, when the last official church prosecution in Scotland for “Sunday golfing” involved fining a Leith innkeeper for providing drink to Sabbath golfers.

The course itself was popular, with the “great and the good” of Edinburgh often paying the coach fare from Edinburgh to Leith in order to play. One famous golfer was King Charles I, who, in 1642, was said to have been playing on Leith when he heard about the Irish Rebellion. Folk history is divided, with some stories having him stay on to continue his game, while others say he left it mid-round.

The importance of the Links on the game of golf was cemented in 1744 when a Committee of Gentlemen Golfers of Edinburgh decided to inaugurate an annual golfing competition. In order for this to work, they decided that the game required proper regulation, and so they drafted the 13 rules of golf – or Rules of Play. By establishing rules, the company became experts, and were called upon to mediate in disputes and make changes to the rules when this became necessary. They remained the arbiters of the rules of golf until the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews took over this role in the late 19th century.

The first open golf championship, on 2nd April 1744 is commonly held to be the first golfing activity of any golf club in the world. (The Royal Burgess maintains it was established first in 1735, but Leith has the first written records to support its claim.)

The prize, presented to Edinburgh physician John Rattray, was a silver golf club

Initially the competition was open to anyone, but in 1764 it formalised its arrangements and limited the competition to Leith members. It was from around this time that they became known as the “Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers”. This title was formalised in a charter granted to them by the Lord Provost in 1800.

During the early 18th century the game’s popularity declined, as did the coffers of the Honourable Gentlemen. Facing huge debts they sold off the club house, and play ceased for a time.

When they next re-grouped it was in 1836 at a new eight-hole golf course inside the racetrack at Musselburgh. With no clubhouse, the gentlemen had to store their golf clubs under the racetrack – which proved highly unsuitable. A decision to build a club house necessitated funding, and so the club started to charge members an annual subscription.

Overcrowding forced another move, and in 1891 the Honourable Gentlemen settled at another racetrack, at the East Lothian horse races on the Hundred Acres Park. This became the Muirfield course, designed by Old Tom Morris, originally 16 holes, but quickly built up to 18.

Often referred to as Muirfield, the club’s official title remains The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. And its ancient lineage is still important today, according to Alastair Brown, Club Secretary.

“The club has a particular standing in golf and is unique in many aspects,” he says. Members still, unusually, tend to play foursome golf, and maintain the “ethos” of the original club.

This ethos has seen the club remain men only, although women are able to play with members or on the open days during the week. Members still compete for the Silver Golf club yearly, although they are now on their third one. The club, as tradition dictates, is gifted by Edinburgh City Council – although only once every hundred years or so.

Although management of the Rules of Golf still rest with the Royal and Ancient, Muirfield, and the club, very much consider themselves at the forefront of the sport still. Alastair Brown is proud of the “prestige’ that the club enjoys: “It is one of the premier golf clubs in the world, partly because of it’s history, partly a function of its traditional golf … it’s just a very elegant and distinguished place.”

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