Muirfield to get a second course?

The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers could add a second 18-hole course to accompany Open Championship host venue Muirfield.

bunkered.co.uk has learned that a top golf course architect, believed to be Martin Hawtree, has been consulted over plans to make a new links layout from extra land currently owned by the male-only club.

A source told us that Hawtree had discussions with club officials as many as three years ago with a view to developing the area to the north of the existing course. The land, between Muirfield and the Firth of Forth, extending east towards the new holes at neighbouring course The Renaissance, is thought to be the site that the club has designs on transforming into a new 18-hole course.

“I’m sure the matter of adding another course has been discussed.” – Stewart McEwan

Speaking in one of our sister publications, Scottish Club Golfer, Stewart McEwen, the secretary of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers refused to rule out the possibility of a new course but insisted that there are no immediate plans to break ground.

“I’m sure the matter of adding another course has been discussed,” said McEwen, who joined the club last year. “However, there have been no further conversations on the matter during my time here and certainly not at committee level.”

Muirfield has been the home of the club since 1891 and, the following year, it hosted the Open for the first time. It has, to date, staged the event 16 times.

There have been rumblings, however, that it might lose its place on the Open rota unless it drops its male-only membership policy. A second course, one might reasonably assume, could be used as a ladies’ course should matters change.

Muirfield: Does it need another course?

Do you think a second course to go alongside Muirfield is a good idea? Leave your thoughts in our ‘Comments’ section below.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor