The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh traces its origins back to 1735, the foundation date recorded in the Edinburgh Almanac from 1834 onwards. This date makes Burgess the oldest golf society. They played over Bruntsfield Links, in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, for the first hundred years of their existence. Depicted above is Bruntsfield Links as it was in 1750 and below as it is today.

The first extant minutes start in 1773, and the extract below is taken from Burgess Chronicles.

The first-mentioned Orlando Hart, a shoemaker and Deacon of the Trades in Edinburgh became the first recorded captain, with Daniel Kerr, a goldsmith, as his Treasurer and Charles Rhind, a merchant, as his Secretary. A uniform was adopted in 1790, used to distinguish the golfers ‘to give warning to pedestrians in such a way as to avoid injury.’

The Burgess used an establishment called Golfhall (sometimes also called Foxtoun or Foxton) as their early clubhouse from at least 1773 to 1792, when they took a lease on a 'Captain Rollo’s house', called both the ‘Golf Tavern’ in the Burgess Chronicles and the ‘Golf Hotel’ elsewhere.  Both Golfhall and Golf Hotel, seen in print below, appear to have been demolished, but were probably just to the left of the present day ‘Golf Tavern’ at 30 Wright’s Houses. The Burgess also used several other taverns round and about Edinburgh for Council meetings.

Bruntsfield Links Golf Hotel - Click for larger image

On 2 July 1800 the Edinburgh Town Council granted to the Burgess Society a Seal of Cause whereby it became a legal corporation with power to hold property, make its own by-laws and regulations and promote the game of golf amongst its members. Upon the granting of the Seal of Cause, the Society became known as the Edinburgh Burgess Golfing Society and changed its motto from "Long and Far" to the more common golfing motto of the day "Far and Sure".

By the early 19th Century, Bruntsfield Links became increasingly congested with people and traffic. The Burgess members decided to move to Musselburgh in 1874 where they shared the nine-hole course with The Honourable Company, Bruntsfield Links GS and the (Royal) Musselburgh GC. There were about 100 Burgess members at this time and they occupied 10 Links Place (now 10 Balcarres Road below) for several years.

Burgess clubhouse Musselburgh

Within 20 years, with the popularity of golf and the competition from the racing, Musselburgh was felt to be overcrowded. In 1894, the Burgess Society bought land from the Maitland family in Barnton, Edinburgh. The course was laid out by Tom Morris and was formally opened on 3 May 1895. The present clubhouse, which was originally designed by RM Cameron and completed in May 1897, has been extended in 2002 to provide ladies facilities.

By a Royal Edict dated 30 September 1929 of His Royal Highness King George V,  the Burgess changed their name to The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh.

The official website of the Royal Burgess Golfing Society gives more details of the history and terms of play. Visitors are welcomed in off-peak times.

More details of early golf at Bruntsfield Links

More details of early golf at Musselburgh

More details of foundation of Burgess Club

Accommodation in Edinburgh

Top to page