Magical Muirfield

The classic links in Muirfield, East Lothian has often been regarded as one of the best courses in the world not just on the Open Championship circuit.

It’s been quoted many times this week already but the superlatives for Muirfield just keep coming. Players arriving early to maximise their preparation time have all said the same thing; The course couldn’t be in better shape leading up to the third major of the year.

This Thursday Muirfield will host the Open Championship for the 16^th time. A lot has changed since Ernie Els last triumphed back in 2002. The pressure of changing something that was already very special fell at the feet of world renowned architect Martin Hawtree in conjunction with the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. The aim was to still have a course worthy of its status along with producing a challenge to the world’s best golfers.

In 2008 the result was added length, and tightening of bunkers around the greens placing an emphasis on accurate approach play. If you’re going to win around Muirfield you still have to be a solid ball striker, which looking back at previous winner here just so proves.

158 yards have been added mainly in new tees and depending on the weather Muirfield still remains one of the toughest challenges out there.

History

Old Tom Morris was first responsible for laying down the foundations at Muirfield. His 16 holes in 1891 got extended to 18 when the first Open Championship was held a year later.

The original lay-out of the course only covered 177 acres, a lot of which was sandy wasteland meaning during competition time there were many waterlogged areas. The whole course was also surrounded by a stone wall meaning expansion was out of the question.

A second Open was held in 1896 and after, it was evident that improvements needed to be made. Over the next thirty years major changes went on as more land was purchased, land was drained and the sandy areas were seeded and cultivated.

In 1923 a further 50 acres were added to the North course and renowned designer Harry Colt was brought in to oversee the project. Colt’s ideas, design and lay-out still stands today. His ambition of adding 14 new holes and designing two new loops of nine, one played inside the other in the opposite direction, gave Muirfield its world class status.

Apart from the slight changes in 2008 the only other re-design came in 1935 when Tom Simpson re-modelled the 13^th hole which again went down well with players gracing the famous links.

Clubhouse

The elegant box-framed, Elizabethan design which sits behind the 18^th green is one of golf’s most famous images. Built in conjunction with the course in 1891 at the cost of £1,574, it has also not been without change. Modifications and extensions have been made over the years to go along with changes in its surroundings and the times; however it still houses some of the game’s most famous memorabilia draped upon the walls and panels that has seen history gone by.

This week the players can relax in the smoking room, the Muirfield room or the dining room that sits in-between if they want to escape the huge locker room that sits in the far end of the building.

The course

Other than being a top ball striker, to win around Muirfield you have to play the par-3’s well. Gary Player once said they are the best collection of short holes anywhere in the world. The 4th, 7th, 13th and 16^th could well decide who takes the Claret Jug home on Sunday night.

The signature tight tee shots go hand in hand with the Open Championship and will once again come down to who is confident of putting their ball in play with a clean strike. The blind shot off the 11^th is possibly the toughest and if the wind blows, then of course the famed Open rough will play its part in proceedings or as Ian Poulter calls it this week the ’hay’.

The ‘tough but fair’ challenge will be one not to be missed. It’s a place that always has a special place in your heart but can also take away a bit of your soul. Golfers have come and gone and tried to conquer. Only few have gone away victorious. The ones that have, have tried to emulate it around the world. Jack Nicklaus named the now famous ‘Muirfield Village’ in Ohio after the place where he won the first of his Open Championships in 1966. Others, Player and Sir Nick Faldo, a two-time winner on the links have both admitted doing the same in their design work.

Whatever happens, the winner at Muirfield will no doubt be a true and worthy champion.

Related Articles

Open Features

Open - Ten to Watch

Open Countdown - Justin Rose

Muirfield An Open Preview

Open Contenders - Magnificent Seven

Countdown to the Open - Nick Faldo

Countdown to the Open - Seve Ballesteros