JK GILLON

Golf, already well known in Scotland around the middle of the 15th century, was so popular that it was at one time prohibited because it interfered with the practice of archery. Bruntsfield Links, originally an area of common grazing ground and where victims of the plague were banished to, was Edinburgh's earliest course for the pursuit of the Royal and Ancient game. Two pioneering clubs, the Royal Burgess Golfing Society and the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, were established at Bruntsfield in the mid 18th century. Golf was so popular in Edinburgh at this time that the Town Council instituted a trophy, a silver club, as an annual prize for members of the Honourable Company.

If amongst today's golfing enthusiasts there are many for whom the game is an obsession, it is unlikely that their condition is as acute as was that of one Bruntsfield's 18th century players. Alexander McKellar was the owner of an Edinburgh tavern, the running of which he left exclusively to his wife. Immediately after breakfast McKellar would set off for Bruntsfield Links whatever the weather. He would golf for the whole day and even after dark would be seen playing by the light of a lantern.

McKellar's wife would frequently have to send his meals to the Links and, perhaps not unnaturally, developed an almost fanatical dislike for golf and indeed would make golfers unwelcome as customers in her tavern. Despite his dedication and long hours spent on the course, McKellar apparently never achieved any great prowess at the game. Nevertheless, until his death in 1813 he proudly retained the title of 'Cock of the Green'.

If Alexander McKellar was Bruntsfield's most enthusiastic player, the most eccentric and odd character was Daft Willie Gunn, a regular caddie at the course during the early part of the 19th century. Willie's notoriety and reputation for daftness resulted from his habit of wearing all the clothes he owned at the same time. He would be seen in numerous layers of coats, hats, shirts and trousers whether it was summer or winter. To enable him to wear three or four jackets and coats, he would cut of the sleeves of all but the outer one. Apart from his unusual dressing habits, Willie would only ever eat bread and milk, never cooking hot food or having a fire in his lodgings even in the coldest weather.

Bruntsfield Links remains as a pitch and putt course and is possibly the only free golf course in the world.