Weather woes force relocation of historic golf competition
Mairi Gordon • Published 16 Jul 2012 09:29
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July's ongoing weather woes have seen a historic competition moved for the first time in a century.
Musselburgh Amateur Championship celebrated its 100th birthday when the competition got underway on Tuesday.
However the organisers have been forced to move the competition from the 18 hole Musselburgh Golf Club course near Monktonhall, to the nine hole Old Course.
Musselburgh Golf Club was forced to close the course last Saturday (June 30) following heavy rain and it has remained closed for a fortnight as further downpours made it impossible for many of the holes to dry out.
Brian Webster, chair of Musselburgh Golf Club Committee, said: "The bunkers have been flooded and the 18th, 17th, 6th holes flooded, while the 3rd hole flooded when the River Esk burst its banks.
"It is like the Lake District here. [The damage] is repairable but we have to wait for the rains to stop and the course to dry out."
Despite the setback, organisers have ensured the competition will not be cancelled in its 100th year and have arranged for players to take to the green at the Musselburgh Old Course instead, which they will play twice to equal a full game.
Mr Webster said: "These things just happen. It's the first time in 100 years the competition will be moved and it would have to be this year. We'll have trophies for the winners, a cash prize and because it is the centenary, medals for winners in both the championship and junior championship."
Minutes dating back for a century reveal the competition's deep roots in the Honest Toun.
Musselburgh Golf Club had a tradition of hosting professional tournaments including the Open Championship six times in the 1870's and 1880s. but in 1912 members decided to make to host an amateur competition to encourage local interest in the sport.
Since then the competition has become a firm fixture on East Lothian's golfing calendar, with 36 players due to brave the weather to take place in this week's event.
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Old Course golfer
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Jul 25, 12:37
Report commentMusselburgh Golf Club has NEVER hosted the Open Championship .Musselburgh Old Course Golf Club ( officially the oldest playing golf course in the world - see Guinness book of records ) has hosted the Open 6 times .The Old Course was referred to as Musselburgh Links back then when it held the 6 Opens between 1874 and 1889 .
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