The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh is a parkland golf course and is the oldest golfing society in the world, with references to its existence dating back to 1735. It is currently an exclusive golf club, situated in the area of Barnton, Edinburgh, where the golfers are mainly middle aged and elderly men, as the club has a strict clientele. It can take a long time for a person to become a member as they must be seconded, thirded etc. Notable members include Jack Nicklaus alongside a host of royals, aristocrats and socialites.
Ordinary membership costs around £1,000 per year with corporate membership starting around 3 to 4 times that. Women are not permitted in the member's bar but are allowed in other areas of the club if accompanied by a member. They are also not allowed to become members. However, women are permitted to play golf, but only with the accompaniment of a member.
The Royal Burgess Golfing Society, the world's oldest golfing society, first started in 1735 at the Bruntsfield Links, but moved to Musselburgh Links in 1874, due to overcrowding. However, the same problem arose when in the late 1800s, as golf started to become popular. It then moved to their current Barnton course in 1894. The Royal Burgess has only had its current name since 1929, when King George V ordered the name be changed from The Edinburgh Burgess Golfing Society. Royals have played at the Burgess and even some have become members, including George V, Sir Michael Angus and George VI, Edward VIII and, currently, HRH The Duke of York.
| Hole | Yards (red tees) | Par (red tees) | Yards (white tees) | Par (white tees) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 391 | 4 | 375 | 4 |
| 2 | 321 | 4 | 287 | 4 |
| 3 | 421 | 4 | 410 | 4 |
| 4 | 465 | 4 | 445 | 4 |
| 5 | 176 | 3 | 145 | 3 |
| 6 | 485.6 | 5 | 470 | 4 |
| 7 | 442 | 4 | 416 | 4 |
| 8 | 168 | 3 | 138 | 3 |
| 90 | 407 | 4 | 377 | 4 |
| Out | 3276 | 35 | 3063 | 34 |
| 10 | 380 | 4 | 362 | 4 |
| 11 | 348 | 4 | 342 | 4 |
| 12 | 314 | 4 | 303 | 4 |
| 13 | 201 | 3 | 183 | 3 |
| 14 | 386 | 4 | 371 | 4 |
| 15 | 410 | 4 | 384 | 4 |
| 16 | 481 | 5 | 456 | 4 |
| 17 | 443 | 4 | 414 | 4 |
| 18 | 247 | 4 | 233 | 3 |
| In | 3210 | 36 | 3048 | 34 |
| Total | 6486 | 71 | 6111 | 68 |