The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh

The Royal Burgess calls itself the oldest golf club in the world. The Society was founded in 1735, played first on Bruntsfield Links in the city, then at Musselburgh, and has played at Barnton, on the west side of Edinburgh, since its course there opened in 1895. It is due to celebrate its 300th anniversary in 2035.

The course is classic tree-lined parkland, with some fine specimen trees, clever bunkering and very well-kept greens. Willie Park Jr. laid it out and it opened in 1895; Old Tom Morris had judged the turf so good that the greens would barely need laying, and James Braid later had a hand in its development. Scoring well comes down to accurate driving and good putting, but the course is enjoyable for all abilities.

The clubhouse is a showpiece in itself: a late-Victorian Arts and Crafts building, opened in 1897, full of paintings, historic trophies and golf memorabilia. Its dining room has floor-to-ceiling windows over the course, and there are two bars, from the casual Spike Bar to the smaller Members’ Bar.

The Society’s revival, when 16 new members joined in 1773, was led by Orlando Hart, a master shoemaker who became its first Captain. It joined with the Musselburgh New Golf Club in 1873 and in 1891 decided to find a home of its own, which became Barnton. In 1929 King George V granted the Royal title, and in its bicentenary year of 1935 the Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII, became Captain.

In 1956 the club brought the first top professional tournament to Edinburgh, the Penfold-Swallow. It was televised, drew 10,000 paying spectators, and saw a 20-year-old Gary Player make his first Scottish appearance.