Royal Burgess
On the western edge of Edinburgh, the Royal Burgess Golfing Society traces its history to 1735, which by most reckonings makes it the oldest golfing society in the world. Its mature Barnton parkland, laid out by Willie Park Jr and later refined by Harry Colt, is a quiet, history rich round just minutes from the heart of the capital.
Photo: The Royal Burgess Golfing Society via Google.
The verdict
Royal Burgess is golf history you can walk. The society dates its origins to 1735, and while the precise pecking order among the ancient Scottish clubs is a matter of fond debate, Royal Burgess is widely regarded as the oldest golfing society in the world. It began on the links at Bruntsfield in the heart of Edinburgh, moved out to Musselburgh as the city grew, and since 1894 has played at Barnton on the western edge of the capital, where Willie Park Jr laid out the course it occupies today and Harry Colt later lent his hand to its refinement.
The golf is not a brutal championship test, and it does not try to be. It is a mature, tree lined parkland of par 71 and around 6,500 yards, where good driving lines, careful approach play and a sound short game matter far more than length. The pleasure here is in the sense of continuity: a course shaped by some of the greatest names in the early game, an elegant Victorian clubhouse full of the society's relics, and a round played within a few miles of Edinburgh Castle. For a travelling golfer building a trip around the capital and East Lothian, Royal Burgess is a civilized, deeply atmospheric day.
Royal Burgess at a glance
- Society founded
- 1735
- At Barnton since
- 1894
- Designer
- Willie Park Jr
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- Around 6,500 yds
History, designer and layout verified June 2026 from the society and course databases. Royal Burgess plays to a par 71 of around 6,500 yards, a mature parkland laid out by Willie Park Jr in 1894 and later refined by Harry Colt. Indicative visitor green fees have run from around 175 pounds for a round, with day rates higher; figures change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Royal Burgess is a course of subtle, traditional virtues rather than spectacle. Park and Colt routed it through what is now a wonderfully mature tree cover, so the round is a sequence of framed, tree lined corridors that ask you to commit to a line off the tee and hit it. Stray and the trees will block your route to the green; find the fairway and the course opens up and lets you attack. It is the kind of honest, position led parkland that quietly exposes a wayward driver without ever feeling tricked up.
The bunkering is classically placed to catch the slightly errant rather than to terrorize, and a burn comes into play on a handful of holes to sharpen the strategy on the approach. The greens are the heart of the test: not enormous, generally true and full of the gentle parkland borrows that take local knowledge to read. As so often on the older inland courses, the player who manages their misses and putts well will score, while the bigger hitter who cannot keep it straight will find the trees a constant tax.
What you carry away, though, is the atmosphere as much as any single hole. This is a round steeped in the origins of the game, played past the society's historic clubhouse and its centuries of trophies and records, on turf that has been golfed in one form or another for longer than almost anywhere. Pair it with the great links of East Lothian a short drive east and you have a Scottish golf trip that runs from the very birth of the game to its modern showpieces.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club that welcomes visitors by prior arrangement, generally on weekdays; tee times bookable directly or through a trip planner |
| Green fee | Indicative visitor fees from around 175 pounds for a round, with higher day rates; reduced rates for visiting club members (indicative) |
| Booking | Reserve ahead, especially in the spring and summer high season and around major events in nearby East Lothian; confirm visitor days when you book |
| On the day | A walkable parkland; the historic clubhouse is part of the experience, so allow time for it, and expect traditional, smart golf attire |
| Getting there | At Barnton on the western edge of Edinburgh, around six miles from the city centre and close to the airport and the Forth bridges |
| Best months | Late spring through early autumn for the driest, firmest parkland conditions, though the course plays year round in Edinburgh's mild climate |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the society; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with Royal Burgess or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Edinburgh is the natural base, one of the great small capitals of Europe, with hotels for every taste from grand old railway hotels to design led townhouses, all within easy reach of Barnton and the airport. Staying in the city lets you combine the golf with the castle, the Old Town and the capital's restaurants and bars.
Many golfers also push a short way east into East Lothian, the so called golf coast, basing near Gullane or North Berwick to pair Royal Burgess with the famous links a few miles along the Firth of Forth, building a wider Edinburgh and East Lothian golf week.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Edinburgh.
Build an Edinburgh and East Lothian golf trip
We pair Royal Burgess with the great links of East Lothian, arrange the visitor days and tee times in the right order and handle the Edinburgh hotels and transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Royal Burgess questions
What is the par and length of Royal Burgess?
Royal Burgess is a par 71 of around 6,500 yards from the back tees, a classic, mature parkland on the edge of Edinburgh. It is not long by championship standards, but tree lined fairways, well placed bunkering and the occasional burn make accuracy and position matter more than raw distance, and the subtle parkland greens reward a good touch.
Is Royal Burgess the oldest golf club in the world?
The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh traces its history to 1735 and is widely regarded as the oldest golfing society in the world. As with several of the ancient Scottish clubs, the precise claim is a matter of historical record and friendly debate, but by most reckonings Royal Burgess holds the senior position. The society began on the links at Bruntsfield, later moved to Musselburgh, and has played at Barnton since 1894.
Who designed Royal Burgess?
The present course at Barnton was laid out by Willie Park Jr, the two time Open champion and pioneering course architect, when the society moved there in 1894, and it was later refined by Harry Colt among others. The result is a thoughtful, traditional parkland that has matured over more than a century into one of the most respected inland courses around Edinburgh.
Can visitors play Royal Burgess?
Yes. Royal Burgess is a private members club but welcomes visitors by prior arrangement, usually on weekdays, with green fees and a famously characterful clubhouse experience. Indicative visitor green fees have run from around 175 pounds for a round, so book ahead and confirm current rates and tee time availability directly with the society before travelling.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. History, designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.