Magnificent Muirfield

Although forms of our game were played earlier, the modern game of golf as we know it was conceived within a horse racing track, Musselburgh Links. The original home to the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers who, in the late 1700’s, formed the rules of play. The authority over the rules of golf have since been passed to the Royal & Ancient Club of St Andrews, but the HCEG still exists. Their home since 1836 is one of the most famous and prestigious courses in the world, Muirfield.

  


As I drive through the town, past the stark stone fascias of the ancient buildings of Gullane and the seemingly endless fairways of Gullane courses 1, 2 and 3 which barrel over the wispy hills, the pins seem to blur into the surrounding streets, reminding me that this region of East Lothian has had the game of golf coursing through its veins for centuries. Just seconds later, my satnav guides me down an unassuming tree-lined driveway and suddenly, in front of me lie those grand, unmistakable wrought iron gates of Muirfield.

Immaculate: a word that keeps coming back to me. There's also a calmness to the vistas you see while playing here; the muted tones of the high, unforgiving rough beautifully blend into the manicured precision cuts of semi-rough and fairway. At a glance, the design seems simple, unassuming. Minimalist grass walkways and perfectly trimmed tee boxes lure you into a false sense of security, but as I tee up my ball on the first and think about my shot, it hits me that Muirfield demands precision and technique. To add to the test, each hole extends into different directions, so the wind whistling in from the Firth of Forth is always a changing factor to consider with each swing.

  


 
For the first few holes I come out unscathed, allowing me to take in the silence and serenity of these historic grounds. I think about those big names like Tiger and Phil who have trodden these bowled, banked fairways and chopped away at the monumental deep-rough, but also the pioneers: Vardon, Braid and Muirfield’s architect, Old Tom, who have thought their way around the expertly-placed hazards and swales. Soon enough I became a victim to the test, dropping shots not just to the changing wind, cavernous bunkers and tall grass, but to flaws in my game and mentality. To score around Muirfield you must concentrate and be considerate, qualities which golf has taught us since its conception 500 hundred years ago. And of all the golf courses I've played, Muirfield seemed like a fitting place to re enforce these life lessons.

Words & Photography By Ollie Allison