The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh
Encyclopedia
The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh is a parkland golf course
and is the oldest golfing society in the world, with references to its existence dating back to 1735. It is currently an exclusive golf club, situated in the area of Barnton
, Edinburgh
, where the golfers are mainly middle aged and elderly men, as the club has a strict clientele. It can take a long time for a person to become a member as they must be seconded, thirded etc. Notable members include Jack Nicklaus
alongside a host of royal
s, aristocrats
and socialites.
Ordinary membership costs around £
1,000 per year with corporate membership starting around 3 to 4 times that. Women are not permitted in the member's bar but are allowed in other areas of the club if accompanied by a member. They are also not allowed to become members. However, women are permitted to play golf, but only with the accompaniment of a member.
, but moved to Musselburgh Links
in 1874, due to overcrowding. However, the same problem arose when 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 even some have become members, including George V, Sir Michael Angus and George VI
, Edward VIII
and, currently, HRH The Duke of York
.
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
and is the oldest golfing society in the world, with references to its existence dating back to 1735. It is currently an exclusive golf club, situated in the area of Barnton
Barnton, Edinburgh
Barnton is an affluent suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland, located to the north-west of the city.It is home to the Royal High School of Edinburgh; the Barnton Hotel; Braehead House, a plain Scots Classical house dating from circa 1700; and The Royal Burgess Golfing Society, one of the oldest golf clubs...
, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, where the golfers are mainly middle aged and elderly men, as the club has a strict clientele. It can take a long time for a person to become a member as they must be seconded, thirded etc. Notable members include Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
alongside a host of royal
Royal family
A royal family is the extended family of a king or queen regnant. The term imperial family appropriately describes the extended family of an emperor or empress, while the terms "ducal family", "grand ducal family" or "princely family" are more appropriate to describe the relatives of a reigning...
s, aristocrats
Aristocracy (class)
The aristocracy are people considered to be in the highest social class in a society which has or once had a political system of Aristocracy. Aristocrats possess hereditary titles granted by a monarch, which once granted them feudal or legal privileges, or deriving, as in Ancient Greece and India,...
and socialites.
Ordinary membership costs around £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
1,000 per year with corporate membership starting around 3 to 4 times that. Women are not permitted in the member's bar but are allowed in other areas of the club if accompanied by a member. They are also not allowed to become members. However, women are permitted to play golf, but only with the accompaniment of a member.
History
The Royal Burgess Golfing Society, the world's oldest golfing society, first started in 1735 at the Bruntsfield LinksBruntsfield Links
Bruntsfield Links is of park in Bruntsfield, Edinburgh, immediately to the south-west of The Meadows, which it adjoins.Unlike The Meadows, which is a former loch, Bruntsfield Links was always dry...
, but moved to Musselburgh Links
Musselburgh Links
Musselburgh Links in Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland, is generally recognised as the oldest golf course in the world, and the oldest on which play has been continuous...
in 1874, due to overcrowding. However, the same problem arose when 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
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
ordered the name be changed from The Edinburgh Burgess Golfing Society. Royals have played at the Burgess and even some have become members, including George V, Sir Michael Angus and George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
, Edward VIII
Edward VIII of the United Kingdom
Edward VIII was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India, from 20 January to 11 December 1936.Before his accession to the throne, Edward was Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay...
and, currently, HRH The Duke of York
Prince Andrew, Duke of York
Prince Andrew, Duke of York KG GCVO , is the second son, and third child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
.
Course Detail
| | Hole | | Yards (red tees) | | Par (red tees) | | Yards (white tees) | | Par (white tees) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 391 | 4 | 375 | 4 | |||||
| 2 | 321 | 4 | 287 | 4 | |||||
| 3 | 421 | 4 | 410 | 4 | |||||
| 4 | 465 | 4 | 445 | 4 | |||||
| 5 | 176 | 3 | 145 | 3 | |||||
| 6 | 485.6 | 5 | 470 | 4 | |||||
| 7 | 442 | 4 | 416 | 4 | |||||
| 8 | 168 | 3 | 138 | 3 | |||||
| 90 | 407 | 4 | 377 | 4 | |||||
| | Out | 3276 | 35 | 3063 | 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 | 6486 | 71 | 6111 | 68 |