Musselburgh Golf Club: review
Can this Braid-designed parkland course compete with the multitude of nearby Lothian links tracks?
Located about six miles east of the centre of Edinburgh and a mile inland from the East Lothian coastline, Musselburgh Golf Club's par-71 championship course was designed by James Braid back in 1938, and measures 6,725 yards.
It is mainly parkland and woodland in character, although when the course crosses to the south of the railway line (holes 8-15) the Craigie burn (the course is set inside a meander of the River Esk) comes into play on five of the holes.
While it may not have the allure of some of the better-known neighbouring links layouts, the Monktonhall course at Musselburgh is well worth playing, and provides a fair test of golf, with long but wide fairways.
The sheer length of course means players are sure to be stretched - only two of the par-4s are under 400 yards long from the white tess, and there are three measuring 445 yards or more - but keeping the ball down the middle is paramount to shooting a low score, as trees and heather line most of the fairways.
You might need to take your medecine of a few of the longer holes but the four par-3s are under 190 yards and offer a good chance to make some shots back.
Click the next slide to see Musselburgh's signature hole..
