An area of parkland on the south side of Edinburgh, Bruntsfield Links lies immediately to the south of the Meadows, separating the districts of Bruntsfield and Marchmont. Extending to 14 ha (35 acres), the links are notable as the site of the world's first golf courses, the game having been played here since the 15th Century and perhaps earlier. Located on the edge of the links is the Golf Tavern which claims to have been founded in 1456. Golf can still be played, without charge, on a somewhat rough publicly-maintained short-hole course consisting of 36 holes. No less than six golf clubs began on the links, however all had moved elsewhere by the 19th Century The Royal Burgess (founded 1735) and the Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society (founded 1761) are now located in the Barnton district of the city and the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers (founded 1744 but also playing on Leith Links) are now based at the championship-standard Muirfield course at Gullane (East Lothian).
Bruntsfield Links form the last remaining fragment of the Burgh (Borough) Muir, which once stretched from the Borough Loch (South Loch) to Blackford Hill. The Borough Muir was given to the city in 1508 by King James IV and on several occasion provided the marshalling ground for the Scottish Army. At other times the Muir provided rough grazing for cattle. The name lives on in Boroughmuir High School, located nearby in Viewforth.
