Muirfield

MUIRFIELD GOLF CLUB (THE HONOURABLE COMPANY OF EDINBURGH GOLFERS)	Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
Course Review
• Founded:	1891
• Designer:	Tom Morris, Harry S. Colt
• Championship Length:
• PAR:	70
• SSS (Course Rating):	73
• Type:	Links

Throughout Scottish clubhouses, the argument perpetually wages on over which of the great Scottish Links is the finest. All golfers have a view and are always willing to defend their stance, but without doubt the course most often bestowed with the honour is Muirfield.

However, not only is this famous Open venue cherished by the locals; Muirfield has enjoyed widespread international acclaim. Perhaps the greatest compliment of all has come from Jack Nicklaus who named his own course in Ohio after the East Lothian Links where Nicklaus won his first Open Championship in 1966.

Although praise from great names is always worthy of note, the litmus test for any championship course is the quality of the winners it produces. In this category Muirfield is second to none. Among its prestigious list of past winners are the dominant figures of their time: Vardon, Cotton, Player, Nicklaus, Trevino, Watson, and Faldo. More recently, Sergio Garcia triumphed in the British Amateur Championship held here in 1998.

The reason Muirfield generates such wonderful winners is because, although still bestowed with the inevitable nuances that are characteristic of links golf, Muirfield is arguably the fairest examination of golf that Great Britain has to offer. Almost without exception, all the hazards are visible from the tee and the golfer is confronted with an honest challenge on every hole.

The ninth at Muirfield has played a pivotal role in many an Open Championship. In 1972 when Trevino, Jacklin, and Nicklaus were jostling for the title, both Jacklin and Trevino made sublime eagle threes, giving Trevino the impetus to hold off the great Nicklaus who had won here in 1966. By contrast, in 1959 Peter Thomson, the defending champion, pulled his second over the boundary wall on the left of the fairway; this eliminated his chance to make it five Open victories in six years.

The tee shot at the ninth is played into a tight bottle-neck protected on the left by two well-placed bunkers. Following a good drive, the longer hitters may wish to take on the carry in two, but do so in the knowledge that out of bounds awaits a slight pull and there are five bunkers on the right to gather any shot struck with fear of the out of bounds in mind.

Although most American visitors will be used to the ninth greens which nestle by the clubhouse, it is perhaps worthy of note that Muirfield was the first course built with two loops of nine.

Following a fantastic front nine, the best holes on the back nine are undoubtedly saved until last, with 16, 17 and 18 being finishing holes worthy of such a great course.

The 16th is a 188-yard par 3 with a slightly raised green which runs off steeply on the left hand side. If in doubt, take one more club, for this green is 34 yards long and all the trouble is to the front or right of the green. A three here will set you up well for the 17th.

The 17th, standing at a mammoth 550 yards, is a definite three-shot, par 5 for us mere mortals. However, playing such a hole makes you appreciate more readily the vast distances the professionals hit the ball. For John Cook made it on here in two before three putting to lose out to Faldo in 1992.

The left hand side of the fairway is well-protected by five fairway bunkers, some of which (unusually) are hidden from the tee. But the really treacherous aspect of this hole comes in the shape of four fairway cross bunkers lying some 130 yards from the green.

Only those assured of carrying these traps should go for length with the second shot, for escaping from these bunkers will definitely cost at least one shot. Consequently, the shrewd maneuver is to lay up short and hope to get the green with your third. Anyone making five here should be pleased, for the 17th throws up both physical and mental challenges at every juncture, and to emerge with the card unscathed is a monumental achievement.

This brings you to the famous 18th that has witnessed numerous emotional finishes. Gary Player was in tears after taking six to think he had blown his chances of winning the Open in 1959. Thankfully, for him, a double bogey was not disastrous and he emerged victorious. Faldo too, the man so notoriously cool under pressure, broke down after finishing with a par to win the Open in 1992.

Take time playing this hole, for the cardinal sin at Muirfield is to focus incessantly on the challenge in hand and forget the history synonymous with this famous links. Muirfield is arguably the finest course in Britain, and its architectural qualities are more than matched by its long and prestigious history which seems to mirror the games development.

For Muirfield was home to the first 72-hole Open Championship and is also home to the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, the oldest club on record with documentation surviving from 1744. With such links to the game's heritage and a sublime course included in the package, Muirfield has to be considered a must.

Course review content courtesy of Golf Publisher Syndications