[MCirba]

This past October I realized a lifelong dream playing Muirfield as my 1000th course.   On another thread I had recounted the reasons for selecting the home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, as follows;

My late father worked over 40 years in a book warehouse for Harper & Row publishers.   Essentially, he filled "hot" orders for shipment.   Back in 1971 I was introduced to golf through some friends and when my dad saw my level of interest and commitment (as well as the fact that I missed another year of Little League baseball by a week and was now a 12 year old playing against kids 13 to 15, many of whom were already shaving!) to the game he brought me home a Jack Nicklaus book called "The Greatest Game of All".

The first half of the book told the story to date of Jack's professional career and the second half was instructional.   I used the second half to trial and error a golf swing (to date I have never had a lesson, which was probably unwise retrospectively ) but the first half I found fascinating in the pictures of Jack playing golf in tournaments at various courses.

But one picture captivated me.   In the account of Jack's 1966 British Open victory at Muirfield, included was a picture from behind the 18th green looking out over the vast treeless expanse that is links golf, something that was quite foreign to me having grown up in northeastern Pennsylvania.   The green itself looked to be a simple outgrowth of the fairway only cut shorter, and the shadowy bunkers started at ground level and went down.   In short, it looked magical and if I looked at the picture once I've looked at it 1,000 times over the years.

Years later, in 1985 I was in Scotland on a non-golf trip with my college roommate.   During a drive I happened to notice that we were in Gullane and asked my roommate if we could drive and find Muirfield, as I needed to see it.   Sure enough, we found it rather easily and then found that the big iron gate was open.   It was a lovely summer evening yet there was not a soul on the course so we decided to take a stroll, hoping to get a few pictures.   We walked about 100 or so yards down past the first tee, past the incredible 18th greensite, and were on our way out to the sea when we heard, "Hello...you can't be out here" from a gentleman near the clubhouse who then escorted us from the property.   These were the days of Paddy Hamner so that gruff fellow may have been the legend himself for all we knew.

Then, over the years seeing Jack lose his chance at the Grand Slam to Lee Trevino's own magic, and subsequent wins by Watson, Faldo in close duels, Els earning the Claret Jug all solidified my long-distance love affair with the course.

Finally, watching Phil Mickelson complete his fairly miraculous dream of winning The Open there in 2013 cinched it for me.   As another left-hander (my dad who had passed by then was as well), I thought his back nine play was a sign from the universe, and thus, playing Muirfield as my 1000th course became the goal.




While I'm hardly a photographer, I did get quite a few pictures with my Samsung Note 5 smartphone and I hope they capture the course well.   Given the number of photos, I'll add them in total over a number of posts.  Thanks, and I hope you enjoy.

[MCirba]

The day was  unusual in that there was an "Amber Alert" issued for the area around Edinburgh, with wind speeds steady and gusting to 40-50 mph.   I'm not sure I had ever been outside in such conditions, much less played 36 holes and it was indeed a challenge beyond what the course normally offered.

Our play started on the back nine, and the first photo begins with us happily ensconced inside the clubhouse sipping coffee at daybreak while looking out the window to see the wind already bending the flagstick on 18.   We passed on the offer to warm up by hitting golf balls and decided to reserve our energies for the battle ahead.

Many of the photos came out well although some might be a bit blurry from trying to hold the phone steady in the wind.

From this point, I think I'll just let the photos do the talking but will be happy to answer any questions.



Sunlight coming up over the 18th green.



From the 10th tee



Finding an early bunker on 10



11th tee shot



Approach to 11



Wind swept approaches right on 11



5th green from 11th green



Down the 12th



12th green



13th



Michael G will later correct his aim on 13 and almost ace the hole.



Yours truly happy as a clam



13th green looking down the length of 14



Fairway bunkers on left of 14



15th tee shot



Ditto



From left of 15 green



2nd green from 16th tee



Par three 16th



15th green from 16th tee



2nd green from 16th tee



just shy of 16 green



from short right of 16th green



from behind 16 green



17th tee shot



More of left hand fairway bunkers on 17



Cross bunkers on 17



"Coffin bunker" in the cross bunker grouping on 17



Some good approaches from the group on 17 downwind

[Jon Cavalier]

This is awesome.

Congrats on your 1000th course.

Great photos - thanks for sharing.

[Jason Topp]

Mike - could you identify the hole numbers?

[MCirba]

Mike - could you identify the hole numbers?

Jason,

Done, thanks.

[Thomas Dai]

Congratulations on your 1,000th. Terrific choice of venue. Your photos bring back some fine memories for me of playing the course. Unlike many however, I happen to like the rough at Muirfield!


Unless I'm mistaken that's Phil Rodgers in the first photo posted, the b&w photo with Jack Nicklaus.


Atb

[MCirba]

Good to know that folks are enjoying these.   The next batch.

From behind 17 green



View up 18 leaving 17 green (NOTE the wooden bench blown over from the gales)



From fairway center



Left side - Players teeing off on 1 to right



Iconic island bunker to right of 18th green



Behind 18th green looking back



Tee shot on 2



Approach on 2 - I putted from here and made par



Tee shot on 3



3rd Fairway



Looking back down 3 from 4th tee



Par three 4th



4th green from 5th tee



Bunkers intersecting into the 5th fairway



Approach to the par 5 5th after a big downwind drive



Left side of the 6th with semi-blind approach over wall



Coming into 6th green



Greenside bunker on 6



Backup on 7th tee, dead into wind



Looks easy here but we didn't see a single player hit and stay on the green in 4 foursomes (including ours)

[Ash Towe]

Great photos Mike.


The turf looks fantastic.


Muirfield is a great day out.

[Bill_McBride]

The rough looks absolutely brutal, higher and thicker than I recall from my day there back in 2007.


#13 is one of the best par 3s in the world. 

[MCirba]

Bill,

It was likely due to a generally wet season but the rough was the only downside of the course.  It was a lost or unplayable ball the majority of the time.  Gullane and Renaissance next door were both much more reasonable and playable although I understand both can approach that level of penalty at times as well.

[Bill_McBride]

Bill,

It was likely due to a generally wet season but the rough was the only downside of the course.  It was a lost or unplayable ball the majority of the time.  Gullane and Renaissance next door were both much more reasonable and playable although I understand both can approach that level of penalty at times as well.

So you're saying the rough grows thicker and longer at Muirfield than at its neighbors although everybody had the same winter?  That's downright elitist!   

[MCirba]

Too funny Bill!

[Sean_A]

Bill,

It was likely due to a generally wet season but the rough was the only downside of the course.  It was a lost or unplayable ball the majority of the time.  Gullane and Renaissance next door were both much more reasonable and playable although I understand both can approach that level of penalty at times as well.

Really?  The rough was worse at Murifield than Renaissance?  Lets hope RC is much improved rather than Muirfield deteriorated 


Ciao

[MCirba]

Yes, much Sean.  I don't recall us looking for a ball in futility at Renaissance.

[Michael Graham]

Mike,


Thanks for posting all your photos, you managed to get some really great shots. The light first thing in the morning was particularly great. I don't recall you having your camera out quite so much - I guess I was too busy trying to stay vertical in the wind. What the photos highlight is outwith the wind what a beautiful day day it was.

[MCirba]

All,

Ok, here's the last batch. 

Tee shot from the elevated 8th tee



Right side fairway bunker cluster looking at the green



Same, a little closer



Tee shot on number 9



Nest of bunkers in play for second shot on 9



Lunch - Trying to disprove the widely held notion that GCAers are not fit for polite company



As mentioned previously, Michael Graham almost aced the 13th during our second round, his tee ball  basically lipping out and stopping within kick in distance. 



The 16th green



From the tee on 18



More of 18



Looking back down 18



Fronting bunker on 7



Cross bunkers on the approach to 8



Representin' in my Cobb's Creek Golf Course logo shirt



Daylight Fading



Goodbye




And, in a bit of a Twilight Zone realization, last night I looked at an old scrapbook to view the couple of pictures I'd taken with a Polaroid camera one summer evening trespassing onto Muirfield back in 1985.   The first pic I took back then has a remarkable resemblance to the first one I took 30 years later from inside the clubhouse at the crack of dawn, down to the maintenance vehicle parked just off 18.   

Sort of affirmation of something, I'm not sure what.     I hope you enjoyed! 

[Benjamin Litman]

Mike,


Your pictures are wonderful, but best of all they convey the personal meaning your round at Muirfield had for you. That made your tour especially enjoyable to review.


Congratulations again on the milestone, and thank you again for sharing,


Benjamin

[Tom Fagerli]

Congratulations on your 1,000th. Terrific choice of venue. Your photos bring back some fine memories for me of playing the course. Unlike many however, I happen to like the rough at Muirfield!


Unless I'm mistaken that's Phil Rodgers in the first photo posted, the b&w photo with Jack Nicklaus.


Atb

You are not mistaken. I have that book as well. Might have read it oh a couple hundred times!

[Jason Topp]

Looks fantastic!  That 17th green is a strange one - it almost looks like they cut into a dune to create the green.  Does anyone know the history there?

[Jeff Doerr]

Great stuff Mike! Thanks for sharing the epic 1,000th.

[Jon Wiggett]

Muirfield can really be an enchanted and special place. Your photos brought back some wonderful memories for me and I am glad you had such a great time.

Jon

[Tim Gallant]

Congratulations on 1,000. I forgot about the cross bunkers at 8. How special is that reverse L shaped bunker? I love the bunkers of C&C or Royal County Down as much as the next guy, but some of the bunkers at Muirfield (1 fairway, 18 green, 8 front, 9 coffins) are stunning.

[MCirba]

Thanks for all the comments, fellows.   Muirfield is indeed a magical place and the variety of different shapes, sizes, and depths of bunkers makes it more interesting visually than the standard circular pots on many links courses.   

Glad you enjoyed.

Jason,  I have a terrific book on the evolution of the Muirfield course at home and I'll try to find out more about the 17th greenside but I believe it was created during Colt's 1920s revision.

[Kalen Braley]

Mike,

Not to be a contrarian, especially given I've never seen it in person.  But with all the pics and shots on TV I've seen of the place, I have to say, I just don't get it.  Maybe it just doesn't translate for the camera, or maybe I prefer the more visually striking links courses with larger dunes and the like. 

I know several people think the course is the Bees Knees, hell even TD gave it a 10 if I recall correctly.  But I'm just not seeing it.  Hopefully I can get over there and see it in person someday, but I gotta be honest, its not currently very high on my wish list of UK courses.

What am I missing Mike?

Kalen

[MCirba]

Obvious drama is my short answer, Kalen.

There are no do or die decsions, no forced carries, no real hazards other than the maddeningly placed bunkers and the backdrop to most holes is...well..a field. 

It also does not have the undulations and huge Dunes and heaving twists evident at places like County Down or Bally bunion or Cruden Bay.

It's simply an unforgiving exercise in judgement and precision hole after hole.  There is nothing even remotely like a bad hole and several great ones.  It's the Shinnecock Hills of Scotland.

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