Braids No 2 Golf Course, Edinburgh. (1920s

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Braids No 2 Golf Course, Edinburgh. (1920s – 1990s)

The exact date that the Braids No2 course came into being is still to be found. The 18-hole No2 course was laid out on land between Braids No1 and Mortonhall golf courses. Braids No2 closed in the 1990s.

Postcard from 1907 showing the No1 course.

From The Scotsman Friday 12 October 1923 – “NEW BRAIDS GOLF REGULATIONS – It was agreed, on the suggestion of Mr Allan Millar, that the new regulations for the players on the Braid Hills courses be not put into operation until 1 May next, and continued not longer than the end of June.”

Entry from the 1928 - 1937 Golfer’s Handbook; The following links are governed by the Corporation of Edinburgh and are open to all – Braid Hills, telephone number 51111 Central; two 18-hole courses.

The Wills’s Cigarettes Golfing Card below is from the 1930s mentions the two 18-hole courses.

Presentation at Braids in June 1935

Tatler Wednesday 19 June 1935. Image © Illustrated London News Group.

Report on the Braids courses in January 1939.

Edinburgh Evening News Wednesday 18 January 1939. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Report of the Spiers Cup for boys played on Braids No2 in June 1939.

Edinburgh Evening News Thursday 22 June 1939. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Braid Hills Drive and the Golfers’ Rest can be seen on the Ordnance Survey Map below. Braids Hill Drive, the clubhouse and Braids No1 course can be seen to the south.

O.S Map Date Revised 1938; © Crown Copyright {year of publication probably 1944}.

Entry from the 1947 Golfer’s Handbook; All links governed by the Corporation of Edinburgh have been more or less immobilised by cultivation during the war years. The only full course now available is the composite one at Braid Hills, but also at Braid Hills it is hoped to have a further 12-holes in play for season 1947.

Golfer’s Handbook 1951; Braids Nos1 and 2; Professional, D Houston; Head green-keeper, W Cairns; Charges - Braids No1 (18-holes), 6d per game for holders of 2s/6d yearly permit, 1 shilling per game without permit; Braids No2, (15-holes), adults 6d, juveniles 3d, no permits required.

Golfer’s Handbook 1957; ; Braids Nos1 and 2; Professional, D Houston; Head green-keeper, W Cairns; Charges - Braids No1 (18-holes), 1s a game for holders of 5s yearly permit, 3 shillings per game without permit; Braids No2, (18-holes), adults 6d, juveniles 3d, no permits required.

Golfer’s Handbook 1962; Braids Nos 1 and 2; Professional, D Houston; Head green-keeper, R Smith.

Golfer's Handbook 1972; Braids No2 Founded 1881 (This is incorrect as the Braids No2 course came into existence much later, 1881 is the Foundation date for Braids No1,); Membership 300; Professional, F Morrison; SSS 69; Amateur course record, 65; Visitor, 35p.

Golfer’s Handbook 1975; Braids No2 Founded 1881 (As 1972)); Professional, J Boath; 18-holes, 4,832 yards, SSS 63; Visitors, 44p.

Scorecard for Braids No2 from the 1970s. Images Courtesy of Jackson Taylor.

Golfer’s Handbook 1982; Braids No2; Professional, J Boath; 18-holes, 4,832 yards, SSS 63; Visitors, £1.20p. Golfer’s Handbook 1982; Braids No1; Professional, J Boath;

Golfer’s Handbook 1988 – 1991; Braids No2; Founded (1894?); Professional, J Boath; 18-holes, 4,832 yards, SSS 63; Visitors, £2.20p.

PGA Golf Guide 1992; Braids No2; Hon secretary, Gerald Hind; Professional, John Boath; 4,495 yards; SSS 64; Visitors, £4 weekdays; Sunday play on Braids No2 only.

There is no entry for Braids No2 in the 1998 Golf Guide.

Around 2004 a nine-hole course called the Princes was laid out on a portion of the former Braids No2 course. This course was eventually renamed the Wee Braids and is still in existence today.

Thanks to Jackson Taylor for his following recollections “The Braids No 2 course in Edinburgh was run by the council. It was a full 18-hole course although short. It shared a starting box and small clubhouse where you paid your fees with the No 1 course. This is still in use for the No 1 course nowadays. The first tee was only a short walk from the starter’s box. The course was never quite as good or testing as No 1 although it also had some fine views. It was more a case in those days when you just turned up and waited for a time playing No 2 if No 1 was extremely busy. From memory it had a lot of blind holes including some of the par threes. The best holes were down towards the bottom of the course and these seem to have been retained and now form the 9-hole Wee Braids Course. I also remember some holes ran parallel to some abandoned holes from Mortonhall Golf Club. A small wall separated them however they looked extremely tight and must have been discontinued when Mortonhall improved its own layout. Although not anywhere near the challenge of No 1 it was still fun to play with the blind holes adding a different dimension to the game from unexpected rewarding results to sheer frustration with lost balls or finding a well struck shot in a hazard or no where near the intended target.”

Thanks to Jackson Taylor who provided the images below of the former Braids No 2 course. The pictures were taken in September 2022.