Qualla: Muirfield

Muirfield: Introduction

Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Richard Webb, CC BY-SA 2.0. On 26 March 1800, the City of Edinburgh granted a charter to a golf club whose records already ran back fifty-six years. The club had been founded in 1744, when it produced thirteen Rules of Golf for its first competition - the foundational rules of the modern game. By the time of its charter the club had a new name: The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. It would change addresses twice more before settling at a stretch of links land on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth in 1891 - a place called Muirfield. From here it would host sixteen Open Championships, watch Jack Nicklaus complete the first of his three career grand slams, and become, in Nicklaus's own words, 'the best golf course in Britain.' It would also become, for a long time, the most stubborn holdout against admitting women to its membership.

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Image: Richard Webb | CC BY-SA 2.0

Muirfield: Thirteen Rules from 1744

Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Richard Webb, CC BY-SA 2.0. The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers holds the claim of being the oldest verifiable organised golf club in the world, although the game of golf itself is several centuries older. The club's records date continuously back to 1744. That year, the club requested a silver club...

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Image: Richard Webb | CC BY-SA 2.0

Muirfield: The Two-Loop Course

Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit alljengi, CC BY-SA 2.0. Muirfield has an unusual layout for a links course. Most links courses run along the coast and then back again, giving you two sets of nine holes facing roughly the same direction - so a wind from one quarter punishes one nine and helps the other. Muirfield does something differe...

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Image: alljengi | CC BY-SA 2.0

Muirfield: Open Champions

Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Nilfanion, created using Ordnance Survey data, CC BY-SA 3.0. Sixteen Open Championships have been won at Muirfield, the most recent in 2013 by Phil Mickelson. The roll of winners includes Harold Hilton, Harry Vardon, Walter Hagen, Alf Perry, Henry Cotton, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo (twice), and Ernie El...

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Image: Nilfanion, created using Ordnance Survey data | CC BY-SA 3.0

Muirfield: The Vote

Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Scotland_location_map.svg: Eric Gaba, NordNordWest derivative work: Uwe Dedering, CC BY-SA 3.0. Until 2017, women were barred from membership of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, though they were permitted to play the course as guests. The exclusion was controversial. In May 2016 the club balloted on whether to admit women members. The vote produced a majority in...

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Image: Scotland_location_map.svg: Eric Gaba, NordNordWest derivative work: Uwe Dedering | CC BY-SA 3.0

Muirfield: Fly Past

Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Richard Webb, CC BY-SA 2.0. Muirfield sits at 56.042 degrees north, 2.821 degrees west, on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth in East Lothian, about a mile north-east of Gullane village. From above, the course's distinctive two-loop layout is visible - an outer ring of nine holes running clockwise aro...

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Image: Richard Webb | CC BY-SA 2.0