Muirfield

A masterpiece of symmetry and strategy. Muirfield is one of the greatest tests in championship golf – timeless, fair, and brutally precise.

Slope Rating

144

Par

71

Yardage

7,245

Muirfield is golf’s fortress – a perfectly crafted links that demands strategy over power, precision over flair. Home to The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, the world’s oldest golf club, it has hosted 16 Open Championships and countless other elite tournaments. The course’s famed layout runs in two concentric loops – the front nine clockwise, the back nine anticlockwise – ensuring the wind hits from every direction. Every hole feels distinct and fair, with no trickery, no fluff – just world-class golf architecture. The bunkers are deep and unforgiving, the rough punishing, and the green complexes exacting. The 9th is a daunting par-5 that turns into the wind, while the 13th is a short par-3 with danger lurking in every direction. Muirfield is immaculately presented – firm, fast, and minimalist. It’s a cerebral challenge, where every yard matters and every decision counts. This is not a place for gimmicks or luck – it’s for players who can think, grind, and execute. There’s a reason many pros call it the best Open venue of them all.

Designer

Original by Old Tom Morris (1891), redesigned by Harry Colt (1923)

Opened

1891 (current design 1923)

Tee time availability

Extremely Difficult

Special information

Tuesdays and Thursdays are the only visitor days – jacket and tie required for clubhouse lunch. Booking via Executive Golf & Leisure essential.

Tiger’s best round

68 – 2002 Open Championship

Rory’s best round

Mens course record

63 – Vijay Singh (2002 Open)

Ladies course record

66 – Leona Maguire (2022 Women’s Open)

Round duration

4 hours 30 minutes (fourball not permitted)

Caddy guide

Mandatory – walking only, and caddies provide essential course knowledge and guidance

Buggies

Not permitted

An elite-level test. Stay out of bunkers at all costs – they’re genuine penalties. Focus on angles into greens and embrace two-putt pars. Play smart, not flashy.

A difficult but unforgettable experience. Play for position, favour centre-of-green targets, and keep emotions steady. The caddies are excellent – listen to them.

Only recommended for experienced players. Course is long, tight, and unforgiving. Use forward tees and take pride in solid bogeys – this is sacred ground.

Green speed

10 – fast, firm, and consistent across all complexes

Wind

Always a factor – the alternating loops expose you to wind from all angles. Adjust often and trust your caddie.

Pace of play

Excellent – strictly regulated and usually played in two-ball format for pace

Nerves on the first tee

Clubhouse

High. One of the most exclusive first tees in golf, flanked by the imposing clubhouse and deep history. Silence, tension, and anticipation.

The 9th is a brutal par-5 into the prevailing wind. The 13th, a 191-yard par-3 with a raised green and bunkers tight on both sides, is a true card-wrecker. The 18th is a stern, uphill finisher framed by the grand clubhouse – a final examination in discipline.

Dry and firm more often than not. East Lothian’s microclimate offers excellent links conditions, though sudden gusts and chilly winds off the Forth can arrive without warning. Spring and autumn ideal.