Which is the oldest putting green still functioning?

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Naturally, thoughts turn to TOC, but is there one at, say, Montrose older? Would it be possible to restore one of Royal Blackheath's greens from the 17th century? The heath is still there, even if the club is not.

I have been rude enough to assume that the oldest functioning green will be in the UK, probably Scotland. So I had better ask which is the oldest green still functioning in other countries?

[Melvyn Morrow]

Mark

You could follow the Scottish Kings and you may find the pot of golf you seek.

The fun is in the searching - right

Melvyn

[Jeff_Brauer]

Sort of like my "how many courses designed by a gca thread". 

If you count redesigns, new mix or any kind of reconstruction would that alter the definition of original green?  For example, I think many thought Oakmont's greens had been untouched, and then Forrest Richardson informed us that Jack Snyder had done many of them at one point (maybe1960's?)

Would 200 years of topdressing count as a green change?

Or are you just talking about a green site, perhaps having been re-grassed, or tweaked, but without much evolution that sits in the same place?

[Scott Macpherson]

Bruntsfield Links in central Edinburgh would be a contender. They say golf has been played there since the 1450's, and while the Clubs have moved away (e.g. Bruntsfield), the ground is still in play as a 36-hole, free, chip-and-putt course.

scott

[Ryan Farrow]

Sort of like my "how many courses designed by a gca thread". 

If you count redesigns, new mix or any kind of reconstruction would that alter the definition of original green?  For example, I think many thought Oakmont's greens had been untouched, and then Forrest Richardson informed us that Jack Snyder had done many of them at one point (maybe1960's?)

Would 200 years of topdressing count as a green change?

Or are you just talking about a green site, perhaps having been re-grassed, or tweaked, but without much evolution that sits in the same place?

Jeff, I was only aware of the 8th green changing because of the turnpike. Over the years, the profile has certainly changed with drill & fills every season and the XGD drainage. I saw some pretty cool photos of the profile when Fazio's team added an extension to #2. What else was done?

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Jeff, I'll allow you to top dress for 200 years.

Of course conditions change and modern greenkeeping is somewhat different from that 300 years ago.

I'm really looking for the wow factor of standing over a putt and realising that other golfers have stood over this same putt on this same spot for 300 years.

[Jim_Kennedy]

Mark,

Musselburgh Old Llinks holds thye distinction of oldest course, but Ii wouldn't know about the originality of the greensites.

[Gary Slatter]

Melvyn, I would have guessed one of the greens in Perth on the James IV or something course, is it close?

[Melvyn Morrow]

Gary

Not King James VI GC its rather new when talking about golf courses. Perth has some old courses but think you may be a littel out - perhaps.

A Green is a Green be it modified or not or are we working on the oldest untouched Green still in play - now that is a hard one, not sure if we would ever find it.

Its a good question and I understand the answer is linked with the Scottish Kings, and I believe I may be right if I say a Stuart King, but do not quote me.

Melvyn

[Adrian_Stiff]

My first thought of oldest still functioning was the 13th at Prestwick. Its almost certainly not, but its still very intact as was and IMO sorta eclipses anything on TOC because they have all been modified.

[Pete_Pittock]

Anything at Holyrood Palace or Edinburgh Castle?