Muirfield Golf Course

East Lothian, Scotland

About

Course Architect: Old Tom Morris
Number of Holes: 18
Par: 71
Distances: 6,625 Metres / 7,245 Yards
Course Type: Links
Club Type: Golf Club
Address: Duncur Rd, Muirfield, Gullane, Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland EH31 2EG, United Kingdom
Contact Us: [email protected]

Location

Start Planning Your Journey Today

Discover

Muirfield Golf Club has a colourful history dating back to 1744 in Leith where it began There was a later move to Musselburgh before finally in 1891 moving to Muirfield in East Lothian, Scotland. Since then, Muirfield has played host to eleven amateur championships and sixteen Open Championships, all adding to the club’s prestige. Championship tees, the course has changed little since 1936 but, in 2008, in conjunction with the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, golf architect Martin Hawtree was commissioned to advise the Club on how best to ensure Muirfield remains a challenge to the world’s great golfers and the end result was a timeless classic that continues to rate as one of the UK’s leading courses.

Please note that the Muirfield course is difficult to play with increased demand due to it being on The Open rota; its public access days are Tuesdays and Thursdays and very advanced booking is required. Nearby golf courses include North Berwick, Dunbar, and Gullane’s number one, two and three golf courses.

Golf Course Information

The Muirfield golf course features a classic links-layout with pot bunkers, undulating greens and fairways that provide many runoff points into lipless bunkers. The routing of the course interestingly changes direction on every hole which is consequently affected by the relative wind conditions. So, if there is any wind up on the day of your round, each hole will be affected uniquely, adding to the reputation of Muirfield. Its reputation as one of the best links courses doesn’t come from sweeping views or signature holes, it comes from the strength of its layout and positioning of its greens in relation to the bunkers.

Each green is the correct size for each iron-approach & fairway bunkers are strategically placed to encourage strategy right from the first hole. Although the pot bunkers are dangerous and very difficult teg escape, the course isn’t as much of a slog as Carnoustie Championship Links.

Over the winters of 2010 and 2011, changes were made at fifteen holes following a review by Martin Hawtree to ensure that Muirfield remained a suitable challenge for the world’s best professional and amateur golfers. In summary those changes included the introduction of new bunkers in selected drive areas; the relocation of green-side bunkers to tighten the entrances to greens; the extension of greens to provide more championship pin positions and the introduction of six new championship tees taking the course to 7,245 yards in length.

While many in number, the changes were subtle in nature and the essential characteristic of Muirfield has been carefully retained. The most noticeable difference would be the 9th Hole which is now a truly testing par 5, particularly into the prevailing wind.

Venue Information

The clubhouse is delightfully traditional and full of character. All the main public rooms look out onto the course and have an interesting selection of pictures, and memorabilia. At the west end of the clubhouse near the entrance gates is a small, ladies’ Locker Room with the adjacent Captain’s Room and Muirfield Room.

At the far end of the building is the men’s Locker Room with a Smoking Room and Dining Room between. There is also a putting green and short-game practice facility for players before their round. There is no pro-shop, the nearest is at Gullane at the other end of the village, so come prepared for your round (A pro-shop at Muirfield is coming, just not yet).