There are to-day no fewer than six golf courses, of eighteen holes, in this neighbourhood, all lying so close to each other that a round can be played on each in the course of a summer's day, and in addition, within easy reach, are the greens of Musselburgh, Prestonpans, Haddington, and Dunbar. The six courses first referred to, and naming them as they lie from west to east along the coast, are those of Old Luffness, New Luffness, Gullane, Muirfield, Archerfield, and North Berwick. For a golfing holiday in this neighbourhood, Gullane makes perhaps the best centre. The village lies picturesquely at the foot of Gullane hill, and in addition to its own charming course, is close to the two Luffness courses, and those of Muirfield, and Archerfield. Excellent accommodation is to be had at the hotel, while comfortable rooms can be obtained in the village. The course, though not of the longest description, is unrivalled in the beauty of its scenery, in the quality of its turf, and the sporting character of its holes. Very accurate play from the tee and in approaching is essential, if a good score is to be made, and the putting greens of velvety turf, which the rabbits nibble so close, are the best in the world.

Close by, and occupying the western and southwestern slopes of Gullane hill, are the courses of Old and New Luffness. On both these courses, excellent golf of the same character is to be had, though the turf is more unequal, and as they lie at a lower level the views are not so extensive.

Continuing our golfing pilgrimage eastward, the next green is that of Muirfield, which lies about a mile from Gullane village. Though Muirfield is a new creation, it is a green of first-class importance, for, in addition to being the headquarters of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh golfers, one of the most ancient and influential golfing societies in the country, it is now one of the five courses on which the amateur and open championships are played.

The "Honourable Company" came to Muirfield in 1891, and they must be congratulated on having made so excellent a course in so short a time, out of materials that were not too promising, at any rate in comparison with the surrounding greens. Owing to the rapid increase of play at Musselburgh, which is only a nine-hole course, the members of the club found that it was impossible to play their game there longer, with any comfort, and after much searching up and down the coast, it was decided to lease the present course.

The ground, which is enclosed on all sides by an old stone wall, has long been known as the "Hundred-acre Park," or the "Howes," and formed part of the adjoining farm of Muirfield. Golf has been played on it, in desultory fashion, by the farmers and their sons for years, but no definite course was ever laid out, at any rate within living memory, before the advent of the "Honourable Company."

In the days when East Lothian was a great training centre, the "Howes" was the scene of the annual county race-meeting, and many a famous encounter took place on the course between the crack thoroughbreds of the early part of the century. Old Tom Morris laid out the original golf course at Muirfield in 1891, when there were but sixteen holes. But in view of the open championship, the competition for which is now to be held, with Muirfield as one of the five championship courses instead of Musselburgh, in 1892, the course was extended to eighteen holes. In September of that year the open championship was decided at Muirfield, when Mr. H. H. Hilton won with the fine score of 305 for the four rounds. The general verdict of the competitors, on that occasion, was unfavourable to the course as a fitting arena for championship contests. It was contended that it was too short and easy, and certainly the lowness of the scores returned seemed to bear out the contention. Its inaccessibility from all points was another strong argument against its continuance, while its park-like character, and the ubiquitous boundary stone wall, which waited on the pulled at so many of the holes, were generally felt to be against the traditions of a first-class green.

The "Honourable Company," with commendable spirit and enterprise, immediately set about remedying these defects, so far as they could be remedied. By 1896, when the championship again fell to be played at Muirfield, the round had been greatly improved and lengthened. It now measures 3 miles 610 yards, and no complaints are now heard of its shortness or its failure to supply a test of good golf. The new railway, which will have a station close to the club, will remove the objection as to its inaccessibility. The boundary wall remains; but in this respect the course is no worse off than Hoylake, with the exception that, on the latter course, there is cop instead of wall. The putting greens are good and improving, and of large size; but the place is shut in and lies low, and has a depressing effect on the golfer accustomed to the heights of Gullane, or the freer air and prospects of North Berwick. Nevertheless, golf is golf, and not scenery, and the scores made in the 1896 championship are sufficient proof that Muirfield is now a course of the first class, and quite worthy of its place on the list of championship greens.

But a few hundred yards of wood and links separate Muirfield from the links of Archerfield. Archerfield House, one of the residences of the Nisbet Hamiltons, is unique in being the only private residence in the country which has an l8-hole private seaside course attached to it, and indeed, at its very doors. The Archerfield Golf Club, composed chiefly of residents on the estate, has the right to play over the green, and one or two other clubs are also allowed, by the kindness of the proprietor and the lessees, to hold their competitions over it. Mr. John Penn, M.P., as tenant in the autumn and winter, and Mr. James Law, one of the proprietors of the Scotsman, in the summer months - both of them keen golfers - have done much for the up-keep and improvement of the green, and are ever kind in granting permission to golfers for a day's play over the course. In these days, when seaside greens are so crowded that it is all but impossible to enjoy the game; when one is jostled on the tee for the right of starting, or places have to be booked the night before; when the green is blocked with duffers, and when golf balls, flying in all directions, put the golfer in terror of his life, a game at a place like Archerfield is a soothing and soul-restoring experience.