2 Nights, 3 Rounds
Muirfield Golf Club, home of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, sits among the elite of world golfing venues and delivers one of the finest links courses you'll find anywhere in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Considered by many to be the best golf course in Scotland, it's a proper thinking golfer's links. The routing is the key: the front nine loops clockwise, the back nine turns anti-clockwise, with both the 9th and 18th bringing you back to the clubhouse. The result is simple, you rarely see the same wind twice and even small changes in angle can turn a comfortable tee shot into a proper decision. If you like flighting it down, picking targets and taking your medicine when you need to, you'll love it here.
The greens are typically firm and fast, especially in summer, and the bunkering is deep and strategic rather than penal. You're constantly adjusting your shape and flight, and the course rewards patience more than power. When the wind gets up, which it does, Muirfield can feel relentless, but it never trades on history alone, it's a brilliant course in its own right.
Off the course, the clubhouse has that almost-museum feel, with traditions stretching back centuries and plenty of nods to championship history since its first Open Championship in 1892. You can feel the championship pedigree the moment you walk through the door.
It's also a perfect anchor for a golf tour or break in East Lothian, where you can stack world-class links within a short drive, North Berwick, Gullane and Dunbar among them, and still be back at your base for a well-earned post-round dram.
Who is this for?
Golfers chasing a proper bucket-list links day, with heritage, a stern test and bragging rights built in.
Who is it best for?
Confident ball-strikers and low-handicappers who enjoy plotting their way round in the wind, plus anyone building an East Lothian tour around classics like North Berwick, Gullane and Dunbar. If you're after a relaxed holiday knock, this one can feel a bit unforgiving.
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
3 Nights, 4 Rounds
Located at the eastern end of the magical East Lothian town of Gullane, whose character is inherently tied to golf, Muirfield occupies a stretch of coastline that is seemingly god-given for golf.
The austere society's history can be traced back to 1744, when Edinburgh's gentry played over five holes on the Leith Links, but the Company has long since occupied the majestic Muirfield turf. As the jewel in the crown of East Lothian golf, Muirfield is a must visit course as part of your next golf breaks in Scotland.
16 Open Championships, the most recent in 2013, are testament to the outstanding quality of Muirfield's links layout, which features with unerring regularity in any credible list of the Top 100 Golf Courses in the world. The outward nine runs clockwise and envelops the anti-clockwise inward half, demanding that golfers tackle the relentless seaside wind from every angle. Muirfield certainly does not lack admirers, but the head of the queue is occupied by the great Jack Nicklaus, who chose to pay homage by naming his Ohio resort after the East Lothian gem.
The course's original design has changed since initially being laid out by Old Tom Morris in 1891. These design alterations were influenced by some of the leading amateur golfers of the time who were members of the club, the course was developed yet further with futher land acquisitions in 1923 and consultancy by Harry S. Colt, whose famous designs include Sunningdale, Wentworth and Royal Portrush, as a result of this, Muirfield quickly became seen as one of the very best golf courses in the world. Whilst there have been some slight alterations since then, including Tom Simpson's remodelling of the par-3 13th hole (an outstanding short hole with an elevated green protected by dunes and superb bunkering) and Martin Hawtree's review which resulted in work to introduce new bunkering and tee positions over the winters of 2010 and 2011, the course remains true to Colt's original work.
Golfers who have triumphed at Muirfield include some of the very best in the game, including most recently Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Nick Faldo, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. It is however five-time Open Champion Tom Watson who takes the acclaim as lowest winner at Muirfield with a total of 271 in claiming the 1980 Open Championship, Mickelson's total in 2013 was ten shots higher.
During previous Open Championships at Muirfield, the 8th hole has traditionally played the most difficult, whilst the short par-4 11th has been the easiest in relation to par. The course is now defended by 148 bunkers.
For golf in its purest sense there are few courses that can rival Muirfield, which promises to be a truly magical experience.
Muirfield is ranked as one of the best courses in Scotland
| Par | 72 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Old Tom Morris, Harry Colt, Tom Simpson, Martin Hawtree |
| Opened for play | 1891 |
| Previousley hosted | 16 Open Championships |
| White | 7,245 yards | SSS 73 |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | 6,728 yards | SSS 73 |
| Blue | 5,980 yards | SSS 73 |
| Red | 6,728 yards | SSS 76 |
Muirfield has held The Open sixteen times and was the fourth course added to The Open rota after Prestwick, St Andrews & Musselburgh.
| Year | Winner | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Phil Mickelson | USA | -3 |
| 2002 | Ernie Els | South Africa | -6 |
| 1992 | Nick Faldo | England | -12 |
| 1987 | Nick Faldo | England | -5 |
| 1980 | Tom Watson | USA | -13 |
| 1972 | Lee Trevino | USA | -6 |
| 1966 | Jack Nicklaus | USA | -2 |
| 1959 | Gary Player | South Africa | E |
| 1948 | Henry Cotton | England | E |
| 1935 | Alf Perry | England | -5 |
| 1929 | Walter Hagen | USA | 202 gross |
| 1912 | Ted Ray | Jersey | 295 gross |
| 1906 | James Braid | Scotland | 300 gross |
| 1901 | James Braid | Scotland | 309 gross |
| 1896 | Harry Vardon | Jersey | 316 Gross |
| 1892 | Harold Hilton | England | 305 gross |
Muirfield is situated north east of the village of Gullane in East Lothian, 4 miles from North Berwick train station.
Address: Duncur Road, Muirfield, Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland, EH31 2EG
Trevor
✓14 Nov 2025
Would rate this course in my top 3
Sam
✓27 Feb 2025
Tough track as the wind was up. Fantastic experience and made to feel welcome by all the staff.
Paul
✓4 Aug 2021
Amazing! The whole place is just amazing!!!
Gerry
✓11 Nov 2019
Played the course on a windy day so it was pretty challenging. It was a great experience with some memorable holes and the course was in great condition for late October. Stayed for the Muirfield buffet lunch which was top,quality and added to the overall experience.
Visitors can play at Muirfield on Tuesdays and Thursdays, prebooking is advised as the course is incredibly popular, especially during the Summer months.
Golfers are required to have a handicap of 18 or less.
Fourball golf is restricted to morning play only. Those playing in the afternoon have to play foursomes.
Off the championship (white) tees the course measures 7,245 yards with a par of 71, with the 9th becoming a par-5 while it is a par-4 off the yellows, these tees measure 6,728 yards with a par of 70. The standard scratch is 73, although if the wind picks up, the course can play significantly harder than this.
Yes
Yes
£50 plus discretionary
No weekend play available
There is complimentary parking
