Skip to main content

‹‹‹ prev (122)

(124) next ›››

(123)
70077915033283354191331133228013665128151033220994467471383293198451214104663030684507209
MUSSELBURGH83golfboomoftheearly'ninetiesdrovetheSocietyBarntonwardsin1894,whentheMusselburghclub-housewassoldtoarestaurant-keeper.Theopeningofthenewclub-houseatMusselburghon24thJune1875wassignalisedbyacompetition,andadinnerwasheldintheeveningattendedbymembersandfriendstothenumberofeighty-two.AmongsttheguestswereLordProvostFalshawofEdinburgh,ProvostLawrieofMusselburgh,andRobertClark,thefirsteditionofwhosefamousbook,Goff:ARoyalandAncientGame,hadjustbeenpublished.SpeakingattheBurgessbazaarofi892,Mr.HallBlythsaidthatheconsideredMr.RobertClarkoneofthefinestplayerswhoeverusedaclub,andreferredtoamatchinwhichMr.Clark,oneoffourplayers,playedfor£iahole,settlingateachhole!ItisinterestingtorecallinthisconnectionthatMr.ClarkwastheprecursorofeventualitiesatBarnton,ashe,priortotheBurgessarrivalthere,becametenantoftheoldmansion-housewherehehadaprivatecourseofhisownwhiletheSocietywasyetatMusselburgh.ItissaidheusedtoboastthathehadafinercourseinfrontofhisowndoorthantheMusselburghLinks.Theoldmansion-houseofBarntonhasdisappeared,buttimehasvindi-catedhisforesightbythecreationofthebeautifulcoursewhichnowoccupiesthesiteofhisearlyefforts.Inthesummerof1859AlbertEdward,PrinceofWales,afterwardsKingEdwardVII.,receivedpartofhiseducationinthecityofEdinburgh,undertheguidanceofSirLyonPlayfairandtherectoroftheRoyalHighSchool,andalthoughhisstayatHolyroodwasbrief,heseemstohavefoundtimeforsome"exerciseofthegolf,"aswelearnfromasubsequentpost-prandialeffortofCaptainMannoftheBurgessthat"golfersshoulddrinkthehealthofthePrincewithallthemoreenthusiasmseeingthatHisRoyalHighnesswashimselfsomewhatofagolferinhisownway,hehavingonceseenthePrinceplayingoverMusselburgh
I

Images and transcriptions on this page, including medium image downloads, may be used under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence unless otherwise stated. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence