Royal Musselburgh
Founded in 1774, the Royal Musselburgh Golf Club is one of the oldest in the world, though its present home is a graceful James Braid parkland laid out in the grounds of Prestongrange House. A par 70 of about 6,254 yards on Scotland's Golf Coast, it offers a calmer, leafier counterpoint to the famous East Lothian links just down the road.
Photo: Royal Musselburgh Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Royal Musselburgh carries one of the great lineages in golf. The club was founded in 1774, making it one of the oldest in the world, and it once played over the historic Old Musselburgh Links where several early Open Championships were held. In 1925 it moved inland to a new James Braid course in the parkland of Prestongrange House, and that is the course visitors play today.
It is a handsome, mature parkland of about 6,254 yards to a par of 70, with the elegant Prestongrange clubhouse as its centrepiece and the Firth of Forth glinting beyond the trees. Braid set a thoughtful, walkable test that rewards position over power, and it makes a relaxed and historic addition to an East Lothian golf trip dominated by the links. Visitors are genuinely welcome, which is not always the case along this coast.
Royal Musselburgh at a glance
- Opened
- 1925 (club 1774)
- Designer
- James Braid, F.G. Hawtree
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 70
- Yardage
- About 6,254 yds
- Green fee
- Visitors welcome (indicative)
Club founding, designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the Royal Musselburgh Golf Club and leading course databases. The club was founded in 1774 and its current James Braid parkland at Prestongrange opened in 1925, a par 70 of about 6,254 yards. Visitors are welcome on weekdays with more limited weekend access and a handicap certificate; green fees are indicative for 2026, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Prestongrange course is classic Braid parkland, tree lined and rolling, where placement off the tee opens the angle to greens that are well defended but fair. It is not long by modern standards, but the mature trees, the changes in elevation and the occasional water hazard keep the thinking golfer honest from the first tee.
Braid's greens are the highlight, subtly contoured and running true, and they reward an approach played to the right portion. The par 3s are varied and well bunkered, and a couple of reachable par 5s tempt the bigger hitter into a gamble. With the wind off the Forth less of a factor here than on the open links, this is a course where a good score is there for the taking.
The round finishes beneath the grand Prestongrange House clubhouse, a fitting end to a course steeped in history. Royal Musselburgh suits a day when you want excellent golf and a warm welcome without the pressure and expense of the marquee links, and it pairs naturally with the great East Lothian courses nearby.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Members club that genuinely welcomes visitors on weekdays, with more limited weekend tee times |
| Green fee | Visitor green fees apply; rates and packages vary by season (indicative, 2026). Confirm with the club |
| Booking | Book in advance through the golf shop; a handicap certificate is required |
| On the day | Walking parkland with buggies available; the historic clubhouse offers food and hospitality |
| Getting there | Prestongrange between Musselburgh and Prestonpans, about 20 minutes east of Edinburgh |
| Best months | May to September for the Scottish golf season, with long daylight and the driest turf |
Access and fee guidance verified June 2026; visitor policies and rates change, so always confirm current pricing and tee time availability directly with the club before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Most golfers base themselves either in nearby Edinburgh, with its hotels, history and dining only 20 minutes away, or along the East Lothian coast at Gullane, North Berwick or Aberlady, in the heart of Scotland's Golf Coast. Either base puts Royal Musselburgh and a dozen great courses within a short drive.
East Lothian is one of the densest golf regions on earth, so Royal Musselburgh slots neatly into an itinerary alongside Muirfield, Gullane and North Berwick. A week here, with Edinburgh to bookend it, is among the finest golf trips in the game.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near East Lothian.
Build an East Lothian golf trip
We pair Royal Musselburgh with the great East Lothian links, secure the tee times and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Royal Musselburgh questions
Who designed Royal Musselburgh and when did it open?
The current course at Prestongrange was designed by James Braid with F.G. Hawtree and opened in 1925. The club itself was founded in 1774, making it one of the oldest in the world.
What is the par and length of Royal Musselburgh?
The Prestongrange course is a par 70 of about 6,254 yards, a mature parkland in the grounds of Prestongrange House in East Lothian.
Can visitors play Royal Musselburgh?
Yes. Royal Musselburgh welcomes visitors on weekdays, with more limited weekend access. A handicap certificate is required and tee times should be booked in advance.
Is Royal Musselburgh the same as the old Musselburgh Links?
No. The club was founded in 1774 and once played over the historic Old Musselburgh Links, but it moved to its present James Braid parkland at Prestongrange in 1925. The Old Links remains a separate public course.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Club history, designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.