The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh

Coordinates: 55°57′44″N 3°18′21″W / 55.96222°N 3.30583°W / 55.96222; -3.30583

Arms of the Society.

The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh is a Scottish golf club, which holds claim to be the oldest golfing society in the world, with references to it being instituted in 1735 dating from 1834.[1] It is a members club but visitors are made very welcome. This fine parkland course located in Barnton, Edinburgh was designed initially by Tom Morris and Willie Park Jnr, with subsequent revisions by James Braid. As well as ordinary members, there is a relatively healthy Junior and Youth membership too. All memberships are open to any person with the required support. New members must be proposed, seconded and supported by existing members. Notable members include Jack Nicklaus & Bernard Gallacher alongside a host of royals, aristocrats and socialites.

Ordinary membership costs around £1,160 per year, with corporate membership packages available from £2000pa. Junior membership is available at any age subject to assessment at only £50pa (2014) and Youth membership from 18 years is only £400pa as of 2014. Tradition requires that only Gentlemen are allowed to become members, however, women are welcome to play golf, as a guest or a visitor at any time. Partners of members can also play unlimited golf for free (with member) at weekends, in the afternoon and other times too.

History

The Royal Burgess Golfing Society, which claims the title of world's oldest golfing society, is first mentioned as being established in 1735 in an 1834 edition of the Edinburgh Almanac.[2] On 2 July 1800 the Edinburgh Town Council granted to the Burgess Society a Seal of Cause.Upon the granting of the Seal of Cause, the Society became known as the Edinburgh Burgess Golfing Society.[3] It originated at the Bruntsfield Links, but moved to Musselburgh Links in 1874, due to overcrowding. However, the same problem arose in the late 1800s, as golf started to become popular. It then moved to their current Barnton course in 1894. The Royal Burgess has only had its current name since 1929, when King George V ordered the name be changed from The Edinburgh Burgess Golfing Society. Royals have played at the Burgess and some have even become members, including George V, Sir Michael Angus and George VI, Edward VIII and, currently, HRH The Duke of York.

Course Detail

Hole Yards (white tees) Par (white tees) Yards (red tees) Par (red tees)
1 391 4 375 4
2 346 4 302 4
3 421 4 410 4
4 465 4 445 4
5 176 3 145 3
6 485 5 470 4
7 442 4 416 4
8 168 3 138 3
9 407 4 377 4
Out 3301 35 3078 34
10 380 4 362 4
11 348 4 342 4
12 314 4 303 4
13 201 3 183 3
14 386 4 371 4
15 410 4 384 4
16 481 5 456 4
17 443 4 414 4
18 247 4 233 3
In 3210 36 3048 34
Total 6511 71 6126 68

References

  1. ↑ "Scottish Golf History: Royal Burgess Golf Society". Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  2. ↑ "Scottish Golf History: Royal Burgess Golf Society". Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  3. ↑ http://www.scottishgolfhistory.org/oldest-golf-clubs-societies/1735-royal-burgess-golf-society/
  • Royal Burgess website
  • Royal Burgess' history
  • "Archival material relating to The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh". UK National Archives. Edit this at Wikidata
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.