Top ten golf courses near Edinburgh

1. Murrayfield Golf Club

Just a few miles from the heart of Edinburgh, Murrayfield is ideally located for those living centrally. The course combines a mixture of parkland and heathland layouts and plays 5,781 yards off the white tees. The odd sound effect from the nearby Edinburgh Zoo can also provide a handy excuse for any wild shots.

Postcode: EH12 6EU
Closest station: Haymarket
Cost of round: £18-40
Playing requirements: No visitors at weekends
Website: Murrayfield Golf Club

2. Royal Burgess Golfing Society

The Royal Burgess is the oldest golfing society in the world, and one of ten 'Royal' clubs in Scotland. Willie Park Jnr, Harry Colt and Mackenzie Ross all had a hand to play in the course design at various points over the years. Royal Burgess is a stunning parkland course and, although not the longest - 6,126 yards off the white tees - its tree-lined fairways and protected greens ensure it is still a tough test.

Postcode: EH4 6BU
Closest station: South Gyle
Cost of round: £65-85
Playing requirements: None
Website: Royal Burgess Golfing Society

3. Duddingston Golf Club

Another parkland course in scenic surrounds, Arthur's Seat provides the backdrop for Duddingston, which is Gaelic for 'sunny side of the hill'. The course is 6,525 yards long and has mainly open fairways, but many bunkers protect the greens.

Postcode: EH15 3QD
Closest station: Brunstane/Edinburgh
Cost of round: £29-50
Playing requirements: No visitors in the mornings at weekends
Website: Duddingston Golf Club

4. Musselburgh Links, The Old Golf Course

Officially the oldest golf course in the world, Musselburgh Links is worth playing for the accolade alone. Documentary evidence shows golf was played there on March 2 1672, although it is claimed Mary, Queen of Scots played there over 100 years previously. Today the nine-hole course is set within Musselburgh racecourse, and while not the most challenging around, not many courses can claim to have hosted the Open Championship six times...

Postcode: EH21 7SD
Closest station: Musselburgh/Wallyford
Cost of round: £13-14
Playing requirements: None
Website: Musselburgh Links

5. Musselburgh Golf Club

Designed in 1938 by James Braid, Musselburgh is bordered by the meandering River Esk, while the Craigie burn cuts through the course, forcing golfers to decide whether to lay up or go big on many of the holes. The fairways are generally wide but tree-lined, and the course is 6,725 yards long. Musselburgh was used as one of the qualifying venues for the 2013 Open Championship at nearby Muirfield.

Postcode: EH21 6SA
Closest station: Musselburgh
Cost of round: 25-60
Playing requirements: No visitors on Saturdays 
Website: Musselburgh Golf Club

6. Royal Musselburgh Golf Club

Royal Musselburgh Golf Club dates back to the 18th century, and used to be based at The Old Course, before moving a few miles east to its current location at Prestonpans. The course is only 6,237 yards long, but plenty of accuracy and precision is required in order to shoot a low score.

Postcode: EH32 9RP
Closest station: Prestonpans/Wallyford
Cost of round: £45-50
Playing requirements: None
Website: Royal Musselburgh Golf Club

7. Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society

Founded in 1761, Bruntsfield claims to be the fourth oldest club in the world. Situated next to Royal Burgess, just west of Edinburgh city centre, the Bruntsfield Links course is actually a parkland layout, despite the name. Alister MacKenzie modified the course in the 1920s and Fred Hawtree carried out some more major alterations in 1971 making the course what it is today. However, at £65 for a round, the pleasure doesn't come cheaply.

Postcode: EH4 6JH
Closest station: South Gyle/Edinburgh
Cost of round: £65-70
Playing requirements: None
Website: Bruntsfield Links