181 Whitehouse Rd,
Barnton, Edinburgh EH4 6BU
Office
+44 (0)131 339 2075Pro shop
+44 (0)131 339 6474Fax
+44 (0)131 339 3712Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Steven Brian (Royal Burgess Society Professional).The Course:
18 holes. Tree-lined & open parkland. Gently undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb
Surroundings:
Woodland and residential.
Designer:
Original layout at this location designed by Old Tom Morris (1894). Subsequent improvements made by Willie Park Jr, Harry Colt and Philip Mackenzie Ross, and James Braid (1920s).
55.962494
-3.306179
4 miles NW of Edinburgh
From the centre of Edinburgh take the A90 to the city's north-western suburbs, direction Barnton. In Barnton, at the intersection of the A90 (Queens Ferry Rd) and A902 (Maybury Rd), head north on White House Rd. After 150 yds, golf entrance is on your right.
Royal Burgess
The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh: established in 1735, Royal Burgess is the world's oldest golf club. Hard on its heels came The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers (est. 1744; now at Muirfield), and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (est. 1754).
Still located next to its ancestral neighbour (The Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society), this Old Tom Morris / James Braid layout is a quintessential parkland golf course. At the attractive uphill par-4 1st, the starter may well "ring the bell" to start your round on this well-presented and attractive layout.
The nicely undulating terrain provides for a pleasant mix of holes played uphill and down. Several others occupy a less undulating flatter plateau. All are excellently maintained, not least the greens, which have more speed and slope to them than you may at first think.
In this partly open, partly tree-lined setting, a wonderful variety of mature trees and bushes separate the generally good-width fairways. Mischievous water ditches will need to be crossed as you approch the greens at the 2nd, 11th and 18th holes. The stylish bunkering is usually clear to see, but will certainly need to be factored into your course management, especially on approach shots to the often large and rolling-edged greens.
Barnton (as it is often called) offers an absorbing layout that will probe your golfing skills with grace and good-nature, rather than anything too penal or contrived. Although there's nothing much to see beyond the course perimeter, back in the clubhouse there's the chance to explore the long and illustrious history of this oldest of golf clubs.
Pick of the holes: the most significant elevation change comes at the testing downhill par-4 11th. Here, the layout's only blind drive requires an accurate shot over a marker stone before sending you downhill, over a ditch, round a gentle left-to-right dogleg, and onto another of the course's long and narrow greens. Running alongside the hole, through the trees, you may glimpse the par-4 2nd of the neighbouring Brunstfield Links.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends (after midday).
Must book in advance.
Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2025].
Players generally walk this course. Golf carts available for hire. A halfway house is located at the par-3 13th tee.
Limited
First established in 1735, The Royal Burgess Golf Society is the world's oldest golf club, as confirmed by the authoritative website Scottish Golf History (.org). The website lists the oldest golf clubs/societies based on three criteria: i) a formally organised group meeting regularly for the purpose of golf; ii) dated evidence of the club/society's existence, and iii) its continuity of existence.
HISTORICAL NOTES: Royal Burgess Golfing Society traces its origins back to 1735 (this foundation date was recorded in Edinburgh Almanacs from around 1834 onwards). This makes the Society the world's oldest golf club, although the name Edinburgh Burgess Golfing Society was not formally adopted until 1787.
Historically, a society of burgesses (property owning citizens) originally played golf on the Bruntsfield Links in Edinburgh city. The course comprised 6-holes, had been played on since the 15th century, was less than a mile south of Edinburgh Castle, and is now a 36-hole pitch & putt facility.
By 1874, with Bruntsfield Links becoming too congested, the Edinburgh Burgess members moved out to Musselburgh, east of the city. Here they shared a nine-hole course with The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society (who had also moved from the Bruntsfield Links) and Musselburgh Golf Club (later Royal Musselburgh). By 1894 Musselburgh also felt overcrowded, so Edinburgh Burgess moved across the city to their current home in Barnton. Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society also made the move to Barnton, and now reside next door to Royal Burgess.
George V conferred the Royal prefix on the club in 1929, at which time the club's name was changed from the Edinburgh Burgess Golfing Society to the Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh. By royal prerogative, 10 Scottish golf clubs use the "Royal" title, namely: Aberdeen, Royal & Ancient (St Andrews), Burgess, Dornoch, Duff House, Montrose, Musselburgh, Perth, Tarlair and Troon.
Scotland's 101st best course (Golf World, 2025).
132 Corstorphine Rd, Corstorphine, Edinburgh EH12 6UA.
+44 (0)131 942 9026
Visit websiteA modern Edinburgh hotel located on Corstorphine Road in the city's western suburbs, next to Edinburgh Zoo. The large hotel has an indoor pool and a fitness centre, as well as a bar and scenic restaurant. The hotel boasts excellent links to both the airport and city centre, as well as Edinburgh's fine array of golf courses.
No
Royal Burgess; Bruntsfield Links; Mortonhall; Braid Hills.
Dalmahoy; Duddingston; Musselburgh GC (Monktonhall); Musselburgh Old Course; Royal Musselburgh.
Kirknewton, Edinburgh EH27 8EB
+44 (0)131 33 1845
Visit websiteMarriott's Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club is a resort location, set in 1,000 acres of parkland, but just 7 miles from the centre of Edinburgh. The resort boasts wonderful scenery, a baronial manor house, championship golf courses and distant views of Edinburgh Castle.
Dalmahoy
No
Royal Burgess; Bruntsfield Links; Braid Hills; Duddingston; Mortonhall; Musselburgh GC (Monktonhall); Musselburgh Old Course; Royal Musselburgh.
Women’s (British) Open: the last women’s major championship of the season is hosted by Royal Porthcawl GC. It’s the first time this fabulous seaside links course has hosted the event (July 31-Aug 3).
Walker Cup: the 50th playing of this prestigious men’s amateur event sees the GB&I go head-to-head against the defending USA team at Cypress Point Club, California (Sept 6-7).
After that, all eyes turn to Bethpage State Park on Long Island, NY, where the American and defending European professional teams engage in the 45th Ryder Cup (Sept 27-29).
Lottie Woad: 21-year-old Woad burst onto the professional scene in July, with wins in the Women’s Irish Open (as an amateur) and three weeks later in the Women’s Scottish Open (as a professional). She nearly picked-up a major championship, placing third in The Evian in the same month.
Pádraig Harrington: the ever-likeable Irishman added the (British) Senior Open Championship title to his stellar array of tournament successes. His win came on Sunningdale’s spectacular Old Course. Harrington had already bagged the U.S. Senior Open title in June this year.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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