Montrose Golf Links is currently the fifth oldest golf course still in use in the world, some even say the second oldest.

Montrose Golf Links are over 400 years old, with records showing people played golf on the site as far back as 1562. Back then, there was little design going on, but in 1901 Old Tom Morris made the first recorded changes, quickly followed by Willie Park Junior in 1903. During these re-layouts the course was also reduced from a full 25 (twenty-five!) holes down to the now standard 18. I wish I could have been there before Old Tom changed the course, I have never played a 25 hole course and probably never will. Today’s trend is more towards 12 than 25.

The course is maintained by a trust, and three separate golf clubs use it, something that may be a bit confusing to a visitor. Which club should you go to? The answer is that you should just find your way to the pro shop. There you pay your greenfee, and they assign you to one of the club, where you can then use the locker rooms and also have your lunch or dinner.

Come here to feel the winds of time, and to play some wonderful links golf. If you have a set of hickories and a pair of plus fours, you can easily imagine yourself playing with Old Tom.

Pro Shop

The pro shop is small, but with a good selection of equipment and clothing, but there’s no driving range. At the clubs, the members are friendly and welcoming, and full of advise on how you should play the course. “Stay on the fairways”, “don’t go long on the 3rd”, and so on.