Muirfield
Muirfield is the connoisseur's Open links and, to many fine judges, the fairest championship test in golf. Home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, the world's oldest golf club, it runs in two looping nines, one clockwise inside the other counterclockwise, so the wind never lets you settle. There are no blind shots and no tricks here, only honest, exacting golf and some of the deepest bunkers you will ever climb out of.
Photo: Muirfield via Google, contributor kevin heggie.
The verdict
Ask a tour professional to name the fairest course they play and Muirfield comes up more than any other. There is nothing hidden here. Every bunker, every contour and every consequence sits in front of you, and the challenge is simply to think clearly and execute. The two concentric loops, the front nine running clockwise around the outside and the back nine counterclockwise within, mean you face wind from every quarter across a round, which is the truest examination in championship golf.
For the travelling golfer this is a bucket list day in the strictest sense. Muirfield welcomes visitors on set days, the green fee is significant and the etiquette is old school, but the reward is a round on the links that has crowned champions from Hagen and Player to Faldo and Mickelson. Pair it with Gullane and North Berwick on the same stretch of coast and you have the finest concentration of golf in Scotland outside St Andrews.
Muirfield at a glance
- Founded
- 1891 (club 1744)
- Designer
- Old Tom Morris, Harry Colt 1925
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- 7,245 yds
- Green fee
- Around £325
Founding, par and yardage verified June 2026; the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers dates to 1744, the Muirfield course to 1891, with the modern two loop layout shaped by Harry Colt in 1925. Muirfield plays par 71 at around 7,245 yards from the championship tees. Indicative 2026 visitor green fee is around 325 pounds for a single round and around 495 pounds for two rounds in a day. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Muirfield saves its teeth for the closing stretch, and the par 5 ninth, played back toward the clubhouse along a stone wall, is one of the great momentum holes in the game, reachable in two with the wind, a card wrecker against it. The wall is out of bounds all the way down the left and the fairway tilts toward it, so the brave line and the safe line are separated by a single thought.
The short holes are a masterclass. The 13th, around 190 yards, plays to a shelf of a green ringed by deep bunkers where anything short or wide is swallowed, while the 16th asks a precise mid iron to a green that repels the loose shot. These are not long par 3s, but at Muirfield precision is everything and the sand is genuinely penal.
The finish is as demanding as any in the Open rota. The 18th, a long par 4 to a green tucked against the clubhouse, has decided championships, most famously in 1972 and 2013, and it asks for two of your best swings under the most pressure of the day. Stand on that tee with a score to protect and you understand why players speak of Muirfield with such respect.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A private members club, the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, that welcomes visitors on set days, typically Tuesdays and Thursdays |
| Green fee | Around 325 pounds for a single round and around 495 pounds for two rounds in a day in 2026 (indicative) |
| Booking | Apply well ahead through the club; tee times are limited and demand is high, with bookings taken up to around two years in advance |
| On the day | A walking course with caddies available; jacket and tie traditions apply in parts of the clubhouse, and lunch is an institution |
| Getting there | At Gullane in East Lothian, about 30 minutes east of Edinburgh by car |
| Best months | May to September for firm turf and long days, though the wind is a constant companion |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the club; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Gullane and North Berwick are the natural bases, handsome coastal towns with hotels and guest houses minutes from the first tee, and both put you within easy reach of Muirfield, Gullane's own courses, North Berwick and Archerfield for a full East Lothian week. Greywalls, the country house hotel beside the Muirfield links, is the address for the full occasion.
Edinburgh is close enough to combine city and links, with the old town, the restaurants and the airport all around 30 to 45 minutes away, so many groups split their stay between the capital and the coast.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Muirfield.
Stay and play at Muirfield and East Lothian
We secure the hard to get Muirfield tee times, build the week around Gullane, North Berwick and Archerfield, and sort a coastal base and transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Muirfield questions
Who designed Muirfield and how old is it?
The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers dates to 1744 and is the oldest golf club in the world. The club moved to Muirfield in 1891 on a course laid out in the Old Tom Morris era, and the modern layout, with its distinctive two loops of nine, was shaped by the architect Harry Colt in 1925.
What is the par and yardage of Muirfield?
Muirfield plays as a par 71 of around 7,245 yards from the championship tees. Its defence is not only length but its routing, with the two nines looping in opposite directions so the wind is different on almost every hole, and its famously deep, steep faced bunkers.
How much does it cost to play Muirfield?
Indicative 2026 visitor green fees are around 325 pounds for a single round and around 495 pounds for two rounds in a day. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Can visitors play Muirfield?
Yes, on set visitor days, traditionally Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is a private members club with limited visitor tee times and a traditional dress and etiquette code, so apply well in advance.
How many Open Championships has Muirfield hosted?
Muirfield has hosted the Open Championship sixteen times, with champions including Walter Hagen, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson, who won there in 2013.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Founding year, designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.