ENTRIES have now opened for this year’s Musselburgh Amateur Championship – a highlight of the golfing year in the Honest Toun.

Organisers said the 2022 event was set to be “particularly momentous” as it coincided with the 350th anniversary of Musselburgh Links, The Old Course, and 40 years since the Musselburgh Old Course Golf Club was re-established.

The 18-hole stroke play competition will be contested at Musselburgh Links on Saturday, October 1. The tournament features four playing categories: championship, gents’ handicap, ladies’ handicap and senior competition.

The championship is open to members of Musselburgh Old Course Golf Club, Royal Musselburgh Golf Club, Musselburgh Golf Club, Musselburgh Links Ladies Golf Club, any person born or residing within the burgh of Musselburgh and anyone who works in the town, but they must be affiliated with a Scottish Golf Union Club.

Jackie Lambert, spokesperson for the Musselburgh Amateur Championship, said: “We are very excited and eagerly anticipating this year’s Musselburgh Amateur Championship.

“Work is well under way to deliver a memorable event, and we are hoping to attract a large number of entries.

'A momentous year'

“This year is a momentous year for the golfing world in general but for Musselburgh it is seismic.

“It is historically accepted that golf was played on the famous Musselburgh Links in 1672 – 350 years ago.

“However, there is evidence that Mary, Queen of Scots, played golf nearby in the year 1567.”

Jackie added: “This year was the 150th playing of The Open.

“The winner of the first Open, played in 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club, was Willie Park Senior, from Musselburgh – the first of five Open champions from the town, who collectively won 11 championships.

“It is also the 40th anniversary of the re-establishing of the Musselburgh Old Course Golf Club and their taking up residence in the clubhouse once occupied by the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers.

Musselburgh Open

“However, 130 years ago, Musselburgh Town Council tried to fill the void left by the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers moving to Muirfield with the establishment of the ‘Musselburgh Open’.

“This was a unique event whereby players played 36 holes of medal-play golf, followed by a match-play knockout competition on the second day.

“This event was played whenever The Open was in Scotland and the last event took place in 1906.

“In 1912, the town council attempted to re-establish the Musselburgh Open but felt that professional golfers were not of a mind to support the event.

“At a meeting held on February 15, 1912, the decision was taken to hold an amateur event for members of Musselburgh golf clubs and for golfers who resided in the parish of Inveresk.

“The trophy is the Musselburgh Affiliated Club Championship Cup. The winner of the Musselburgh Amateur Championship is presented with the trophy and a silver medal.

“With the exception of breaks during the First and Second World Wars and two enforced cancellations due to the Covid pandemic, the championship has been played every year, firstly at the Musselburgh Links Old Course and subsequently at the Musselburgh Golf Club.

“This will be the 99th playing of the tournament.”

Ladies handicap

He added: “For the first time, we shall be holding a ladies’ handicap competition.

“The original championship was a unisex one, with the Musselburgh Ladies Golf Club an integral part of the organising committee.

“In fact, similar to St Andrews, there was a large number of golf clubs in the town but most have now sadly closed – Levenhall Golf Club, Zingari Golf Club, Musselburgh New Golf Club, Links Golf Club, Honestas Golf Club, North Esk Golf Club and Musselburgh Ladies Golf Club.

“Although there are minute books for the championship committee, there is little information about any of the clubs mentioned.

“It would be interesting to see if anyone has any knowledge of the clubs so that their history could be recorded.”

The championship is played on rotation between Musselburgh Links, The Old Course, Musselburgh Golf Club and Royal Musselburgh Golf Club.

Entry forms are now available from the secretaries of Musselburgh Old Course Golf Club, Musselburgh Golf Club, Royal Musselburgh Golf Club and Musselburgh Links Ladies Golf Club.

Applications can also be made by emailing secretary@themusselburghgolfclub.com

The entry fee is £15.

The event is supported by East Lothian Council and enjoyleisure.

Councillor John McMillan, Provost of East Lothian, said: “I’d like to wish the organisers of the Musselburgh Amateur Championship every success with this year’s event.

“The Musselburgh Amateur Championship has a very interesting history and I hope it continues to go from strength to strength.”