Played over the old Leith Links in 1680, it was probably the first international game between the two countries. The young Scottish duke was, of course, the golf-struck Duke of York, later to become James VII of Scotland and II of England, and most of Edinburgh turned out to see the match because money was at stake.

Like so many others at this time, the future king had been well smitten by the golf bug. The two English dukes teased him about his passion and an argument developed over whether golf had originated in Scotland or England. Eventually the challenge was thrown down to James, who immediately accepted and laid a wager on the result.

It was not the first or last time that a Scot, of royal blood or not, with a reputation or money to lose, has sought means to give himself an edge. And so James immediately sent out his runners to find the best golfer in Edinburgh. They returned with shoemaker John Patersone, who also made the leather golf balls used in those days.

The entire royal court turned up at the links, which was then one of Scotland's most famous golf courses, second only to St Andrews.

The affair had caught the imagination of the city and side-bets were changing hands among the crowds. Scotland won and, although the score is not recorded, James generously handed over half the wager to his golfing partner.

John Patersone used the proceeds to build a house at Golfers Land in the Canongate on the Royal Mile, and it is there to this day.

It was back in the early 16th century that golf first cast its spell on the unsuspecting populace and the golf industry began.

Mary, Queen of Scats could hit a lengthy ball and the monarchs Charles I, Charles II, James IV, JamesVI and JamesVII (of the United Kingdom) all played over the historic Leith Links, the site of sieges and hangings.

Club making became an important skill and by royal command in 1603, William Mayne, maker of bows, arrows and spears, also became golf club provider to the king. Golf balls were made of leather, stuffed with feathers in those days and in 1600 were priced at 'four schillings money of this realm'.

With the Scottish royal family resident at Holyrood, and with so many of them being golfing fanatics, it was not surprising that Scotland's capital became the fashionable seat of the game.

Courses began to be laid out around the edges of the old city with newly founded golfing societies. The Burghers or Burgess Golfing Society, founded in 1735 and now the Royal Burgess, claims to be Scotland's oldest properly constituted golf club.

Many early club members wore scarlet coats with their own individual facings and gilt buttons. Most had their own champions or Cock o' the Green. The dedication of one of them, the celebrated Alexander McKellar, of Bruntsfield Links, saw him practicing short holes by lantern light. It is said he did a dance of delight after each good shot.

Today's Ye Old Golf Tavern on the west side of Bruntsfield Links, established in the 15th century, was used as the clubhouse by a number of distinguished golfing societies playing over the course. Another nearby 18th-century golfing tavern was Rare Mangy Johnston's, which reputedly served a particularly potent ale.