TURNBERRY AILSA
The most junior of Open venues, the Ailsa course is nevertheless one of the best and toughest challenges in championship golf. Sited between the magnificent Trump Turnberry Hotel and the sea, this great course weaves in and out of spectacular dunes.
Turnberry lighthouse and Ailsa Craig, standing over 1,200 foot high out at sea, form great backdrops to all of the holes, and the ruins of Robert the Bruce’s castle can be seen from the signature 9th hole. Although stretched to over 7,000 yards for The Open, the medal course is not one that demands great power for par but rather more care and attention to detail both off the tee and with the approach shots.
Perhaps best noted for the famous ‘Duel in the Sun’ between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus in 1977, the Ailsa Course hosted The Open for the 4th time in 2009, when Stewart Cink triumphed.
ROYAL TROON GOLF CLUB
This prestigious club came to be in 1878, when twenty-three members from Prestwick went their own way and built this splendid links course.
Today it is one of the great Open venues, favoured for its quirky greens and long holes that can make for low scoring or quite the opposite. Troon has the longest and shortest holes of all the Open venues: the 577- yard sixth hole and the 126-yard eighth hole – called ‘the Postage Stamp’ because of its tiny green. Miss a green at Troon and, quite simply, you drop a shot. Troon is surely one of the world’s great golfing shrines.
PRESTWICK GOLF CLUB
Steeped in golfing history, this lovingly-tended old golf course hosted The Open for the first twelve years. Founded in 1851, the club’s first Keeper of the Green, Ball and Club Maker was none other than ‘Old’ Tom Morris, who remained at Prestwick until 1864.
Despite several little changes through the years, many blind tee shots remain, which make for very demanding second shots. Every hole is interesting and many idiosyncratic. Every golfer should experience playing Prestwick at least once in their golfing career.
ROYAL TROON
This prestigious club came to be in 1878, when twenty-three members from Prestwick went their own way and built this splendid links course.
Today it is one of the great Open venues, favoured for its quirky greens and long holes that can make for low scoring or quite the opposite.
Troon has the longest and shortest holes of all the Open venues: the 577- yard sixth hole and the 126-yard eighth hole – called ‘the Postage Stamp’ because of its tiny green. Miss a green at Troon and, quite simply, you drop a shot. Troon is surely one of the world’s great golfing shrines.
WESTERN GAILES GOLF CLUB
Sited on a narrow tract of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Ayrshire coast’s railway line, Western Gailes golf course is a marvellous classic links that has shades of Troon, Turnberry and Prestwick all rolled into one.
With the well- sheltered holes winding through low dunes, Western Gailes is long and testing enough to have played host to some significant championships, including the Curtis Cup, and is a regular Open qualifying venue.
Western Gailes is a course of great variety that is challenging for the experienced player and a test for the able beginner.
DUNDONALD LINKS
Built on the site of an old, 1900s golf course and opened in 2003, this Kyle Phillips designed course is situated alongside Western Gailes and is only a few miles from Royal Troon.
The 7,100-yard, 72 par course has many links features and the layout is superb, with undulating fairways and well-bunkered greens. The course presents a stiff challenge and is a good addition to an itinerary when staying in this area.
Dundonald has played host to a number of professional and amateur tournaments, including prequalifying for the European Tour and the Senior British Open Championship.
MACHRIHANISH DUNES
Hard on the Atlantic, Machrihanish Dunes is the only course ever created on a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). David McLay Kidd ‘uncovered’ 18 magnificent holes along a natural routing through the mature dunes adjacent to Machrihanish Golf Club.
No fewer than six greens and five tees lie at the ocean’s edge and there are spectacular panoramic views across to Northern Ireland and Scotland’s western islands from every fairway. Opened in 2009, Machrihanish Dunes is perhaps the most natural golf course ever built and features undulating fairways and greens, and natural bunkers and roughs.
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