Ye Old Golf Tavern

History of The Golf Tavern
Ye Ole Golf Tavern
Located on the edge of the Bruntsfield Links is the Golf Tavern. Founded in 1456 the Tavern was previously known as the Golf Hotel. It has served many a golf player, and according to Hamilton is:

"...by far the oldest known golfing pub? sport was encouraged in the vicinity of the inn - cockfighting, boxing and games of chance - and it was natural that the innkeeper had a role in early Scottish golf..."

During this period in golf's history purpose-built golf clubhouses did not exist. The local inns provided a place for meetings and social functions. Ye Olde Golf Tavern was used as Bruntsfield Links Society clubhouse from 1788 until early in the nineteenth century when they moved to Musselburgh.

The Bruntsfield Links also had many other uses and were often taken over by horse trade shows, travelling fairs, grazing animals and local people going about their daily business. By the nineteenth century the Links had become so congested that the golf clubs decided to move outside of the city to Musselburgh.

"...Today the Tavern attracts many tourists and locals during the summer who like to have a round of golf on the links and then a drink or a bite to eat