A History of Golf at Gilmerton House
The Kinloch’s of Gilmerton played a prominent role in the shaping of some of the most well-known golf clubs in Scotland. Sir David Kinloch, 9th baronet, was the first to take up the sport, with records indicating that he was one of the first Captains of North Berwick in 1836. However, it was with his son, Sir Alexander, 10th baronet, that the Kinloch name came to prominence within the golfing community.
Sir Alexander captained The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Luffness, Dunbar, and North Berwick. He was also elected President of the East Lothian Club and appointed Trustee of The R&A in 1884. In the absence of Lieutenant General Hastings Anderson, Sir Alexander opened the new green at Muirfield on 3rd May 1891 alongside Old Tom Morris: ‘Having teed the ball, Sir Alexander got away a nice drive and the bystanders raised a hearty cheer.’
Sir Alexander’s son, Brigadier General Sir David Kinloch, 11th baronet, continued his father’s golfing legacy, captaining the same local clubs and many further afield, including The Princes Golf Club, Royal West Norfolk, Royal Wimbledon, and the Royal Automobile Club. He was made an Honourable Life Member at Kilspindie, where he presented the Kinloch Silver Cup, which is still played today. Also a winner of many tournaments across the UK, Sir David was well known throughout the golfing community as a fine player of his time. He was a founding member of the committee of the Oxford and Cambridge Golfing Society, the New Zealand Golf Club, the Military Golf Club, and Phoenix Park, which helped introduced the game to Dublin.
The game of golf is still very central to life at Gilmerton House, which has continued its links to the golfing world by welcoming golfers from across the world. In recent years, we have been proud to host many of the world’s best players when competing in The Scottish Open and, in 2023, we were proud to host the European Ryder Cup Team ahead of their memorable win against the US in Rome.
Follow in the footsteps of the world’s greatest golfers…
With the luxury of your own driving range, a stylish billiards room, bespoke dining options, an historic oak panelled dining room, and spacious reception rooms, Gilmerton House is unique addition to any golf tour that passes through Scotland’s Golf Coast that offers golfers the chance to unwind in their own private clubhouse.
With an impressive selection of links courses on its doorstep, and only a short hop from the home of golf, St Andrews, Gilmerton House has long been a popular choice for golfers from all over the world, including professional golfers from the PGA & DP World Tours and the European Ryder Cup Team.
