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Musselburgh Links recognized by Guinness Book of Records
 The Old Course at Musselburgh Links has officially been recognized as the Oldest Golf Course in the World. According to the Account Book of Sir John Foulis of Ravelston, the earliest game played on Musselburgh Links took place on March 2, 1672. He also mentions that "Mary, Queen of Scots reputedly played here in 1567".
This documentary evidence was included in The Golf Book Of East Lothian, published in 1896 and written by John Kerr, the minister of Dirleton.
The Old Golf Course, which is now managed by SportPlus on behalf of East Lothian Council, was originally seven holes, with another added in 1838 and the full nine-holes came into play in 1870.
The first three holes stretched eastwards from the grandstand at the racecourse, site of the former clubhouse of the Honorable Company. To the right is the main traffic route onto which the Musselburgh golfers sliced their shots and played back to the links using the new brass-soled clubs. The metal plate on the ‘brassie’ wooden club was invented here in 1885, to deal with such shots.
At the fourth green there still stands Mrs Foreman’s Inn there used to be a hatch in the wall through which refreshments could be passed to the early golfers. The course turns northwest with the next three holes following the coastline and the eighth returning south towards the Home Hole, which is now the present first hole.
Musselburgh Links also hosted the original Open Championships six times between 1874 and 1889. Throughout the centuries it has been linked to golfing legends, such as Willie Dunn, who won the first unofficial US Open in 1894. John Gourlay, the feather ball maker, and John Carey, arguably the most famous caddie in the history of golf, are also associated with Musselburgh Links.
Robin McGregor, the secretary of the Musselburgh Old Course Golf Club, said all the staff was thrilled about the accolade.
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