The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh is a Scottish golf club, which holds claim to be the oldest golfing society in the world, with references to it being instituted in 1735 dating from 1834. It is a members club but visitors are welcome. This fine parkland course located in Barnton, Edinburgh was designed initially by Tom Morris and Willie Park Jnr, with subsequent revisions by James Braid. As well as ordinary members there are also Junior and Youth memberships. All memberships are open to any person with the required support. New members must be proposed, seconded and supported by existing members. Notable members include Jack Nicklaus and Bernard Gallacher alongside a host of royals, aristocrats and socialites. Ordinary costs around £1,160 per year, with corporate membership packages available from £2000pa. Junior membership is available at any age subject to assessment at only £50pa and Youth membership from 18 years is only £400pa as of 2014. The club is one of only a few in Scotland that does not have women members, however, women are welcome to play golf, as a guest or a visitor at any time. Partners of members can also play unlimited golf for free at weekends, in the afternoon and other times too.
History
The Royal Burgess Golfing Society, which claims the title of world's oldest golfing society, is first mentioned as being established in 1735 in an 1834 edition of the Edinburgh Almanac. On 2 July 1800 the Edinburgh Town Council granted to the Burgess Society a Seal of Cause.Upon the granting of the Seal of Cause, the Society became known as the Edinburgh Burgess Golfing Society. It originated at the Bruntsfield Links, but moved to Musselburgh Links in 1874, due to overcrowding. However, the same problem arose 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 some have even become members, including George V, Sir Michael Angus and George VI, Edward VIII and, currently, The Duke of York.
