Muirfield: The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers

The course and its history

The Honourable Company's written records date back to 1744, when its golfers played on Leith Links before moving to Musselburgh and then to Muirfield in 1891. Old Tom Morris laid out the original course; Harry Colt redesigned it in 1925, Tom Simpson added refinements in the 1930s and Martin Hawtree updated it in 2011. The layout is unusual: the front nine runs clockwise around the edge of the property and the back nine runs anti-clockwise on an inner loop, so the wind keeps changing angle. There are three par fives, four par threes and around 150 bunkers. The roll of Open champions here includes Vardon, Hagen, Player, Nicklaus, Trevino, Watson, Faldo, Els and Mickelson, and the AIG Women's Open was played here in 2022.

Booking and visitor practicalities

Visitor days are Tuesdays and Thursdays, excluding public holidays. Independent groups apply by email during a set window each spring for the following year, with up to three preferred dates; tee times are not shown online. In May to September bookings are taken for fourballs only. Visitors must be at least 12 and hold a handicap of 24 or less. Play is fourballs in the morning and foursomes (alternate shot) in the afternoon. Muirfield is a walking course with caddies available if booked at least 24 hours ahead; a very small number of buggies is kept for golfers who could not otherwise play.

Getting there

Muirfield sits on Duncur Road at the eastern edge of Gullane, next to Greywalls Hotel. The club advises taking the A1 from the Edinburgh City Bypass, then the A198 through Longniddry and Aberlady into Gullane. Allow plenty of time for morning traffic and do not arrive before 7.30am.

Highlights

• Has hosted 16 Open Championships and 11 Amateur Championships
• Also a venue for the Ryder, Walker and Curtis Cups
• Hosted the AIG Women's Open in 2022
• Front nine runs clockwise, back nine anti-clockwise

Good to know

• Visitors play Tuesdays and Thursdays only; handicap of 24 or less required and minimum age 12
• Applications are made by email in a fixed spring window for the following year
• Caddies must be requested at least 24 hours ahead; only Muirfield caddies are allowed
• No spectators may accompany visiting players

Frequently asked questions