Muirfield - Gullane, Scotland

2 weeks ago Phil Mickelson came one major closer to a grand slam when he won the British Open at Muirfield. This week’s course review takes a look at the history and unique design of this iconic British Isles golf course.

Muirfield, not be confused with Muirfield village – the Jack Nicklaus course in Ohio which pays homage to its Scottish forebear – opened its doors to golfers in 1891. Founded by the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers which goes back to the 1700's, the original 16-hole layout was designed by one of its members, Old Tom Morris. After extending the layout to 18 holes, the course hosted its first Open Championship (as the British Open is known in the UK) in 1892.

In 1923, the current layout of the course was designed by Harry Colt, a professional course designer. Since then, Muirfield has hosted countless championships and is considered to be one of the birthplaces of modern golf.

Golfers who are not accustomed to playing a Scottish links course may be in for a steep learning curve at Muirfield, as the course differs in its design from many modern golf courses.

Situated near the sea, the turf throughout the course has a slightly springy quality which makes it crucial to strike the ball cleanly on approach shots. The use of notorious Scottish bunkering is present at practically each hole, and the greens are smaller than those of a modern course, making accuracy more important than sheer power at Muirfield. Here are some of the course highlights:

• The par-5 ninth hole is lengthy at 554 yards, and will challenge golfers of all handicaps. The fairway narrows in along its length, exposing inaccurate drives to the thick rough. A line of bunkers guard the green, which must be approached with great accuracy to avoid high scoring.


• The 191-yard par-3 thirteenth hole lies at the opposite extreme, but golfers shouldn’t underestimate this shorter hole. With the right approach shot, the greenside bunkers can be avoided.

Muirfield is open to visitors, but bookings are essential. Golfers can visit the club’s website for more details.

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