Founded in 1761, the Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society is the fourth oldest in the world and one of Scotland's most prestigious clubs located only 3 miles from Edinburgh city centre and 1 hour from The Old Course, St Andrews.

The mature parkland style course was originally designed by Willie Park Jnr with later modifications by world renowned architects Dr Alister MacKenzie and James Braid. As a testament to the quality of the course The R&A since 2011 have selected Bruntsfield as a Qualifying Venue for the Open Championship.

In 2017/18 Bruntsfield Links has been re-developed by the highly acclaimed golf course architects Mackenzie & Ebert to produce a new Par 71 layout of 6,500 yards.

The course was initially designed by Willie Park Jnr, one of the founders of golf course architecture. Subsequent revisions by Dr Alister MacKenzie in 1921-22 and Fred Hawtree between 1972-74 have created a challenging layout of 6,446 yards (Par 70 / SSS 71), that meanders between mature trees. The course is characterised by well placed bunkers, mature trees lining the beautifully manicured fairways and undulating greens full of character and deceptive slopes. Extensive practice facilities are also available to both members and visitors. An ongoing programme of green reconstruction to USGA specification has improved both consistency and speed, and with many subtle borrows, a good score at Bruntsfield is always well earned.

The course record of 63 was set by Charlie Simpson in 2009, and equalled later that year by David Donaldson. Both rounds took place in Society competitions. Stuart McLaren equalled this record in 2018.

Bruntsfield has hosted the (British) Seniors Amateur Championship (1988), Scottish Strokeplay Championship (1992), Scottish Mid Amateur Championship (2001), Scottish Youths Championship (1998), (British) Boys Amateur Championship (3 times, most recently in 1975) and Lothians Championship (2006). The course was selected by The R&A as a Regional Qualifying course for the 2011-2015 Open Championships.

HISTORY
The origin of the Society dates back to 1761 when the members played over 5 holes at Bruntsfield Links where golf had been played since the 15th century. The links lie in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle and golf is still played there over a 36 short hole course. The Society is the fourth oldest golfing body in the world and celebrated its 250th Anniversary in 2011.

However, with the arrival of the cheaper guttie ball in the mid 19th century, golf became an increasingly popular game with the result that the links, which were open to the general public, became very congested. The members began to play more golf at Musselburgh where their Autumn Meeting had been held since 1839.

The Society consequently moved to Musselburgh in 1876 where, 10 years later, it erected a purpose built clubhouse in Golf Place beside the clubhouses of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, the Edinburgh Burgess and Royal Musselburgh. The course had only 9 holes and, apart from it being also a public one, it incorporated a horse racing track. These features, together with a playing membership of around 800 from the 4 established clubs and the Open Championship then being played there, created such problems that the Society sought a new course on the Cramond – Regis estate at Barnton, 3 miles west of the city of Edinburgh in 1898.

A spacious parkland course was laid out by Willie Park Jnr., one of the founders of golf course architecture and has since been reconstructed by Dr Alistair Mackenzie (1922), James Braid (1930) and Fred Hawtree (1974). Its current length is 6,446 yards, par 71 but with its shaped fairways, well faced bunkers, many trees and subtle greens, it challenges the ability and skill of the best of players. Bruntsfield has hosted the (British) Seniors Amateur Championship (1998), Scottish Strokeplay Championship (1992), Scottish Mid Amateur Championship (2001), Scottish Youths Championship (1996), (British) Boys Amateur Championship (3 times, most recently in 1975) and Lothians Championship (2006). It has been nominated as a Regional Qualifying course for the 2011-2015 Open Championships.

A magnificent clubhouse, constructed in 1899, has been elegantly and tastefully designed and extended. Its members' lounge has a glorious oriel window and, with a large dining room on the first floor, overlooks the course and provides marvellous vistas of the Firth of Forth and the hills of Fife beyond. The catering facilities are of such a high standard that the members regard them as “the best in town”.