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Ayrshire & West Golf

  • Par 71, yardage 7,150. This private club was founded in 1878 and has hosted the Open Championships on a number of occasions. Royal Troon features holes like the original Postage Stamp (No.8) where Tiger Woods had so much trouble in 1997. One of the great links courses in Scotland, the Old Course is a challenging test of golfing ability. With the wind to contend with, and deep rough interspersed with gorse and broom, accurate shot making is essential. Players should make their scores on the outward nine, as the prevailing north-westerly wind can make the back nine extremely difficult. The No. 13 hole has proven to be the most difficult to par during the Open Championships.

    Maximum handicap: 20 men, 30 women.
    Par 71, yardage 7,150. This private club was founded in 1878 and has hosted the Open Championships on a number of occasions. Royal Troon features holes like the original Postage Stamp (No.8) where Tiger Woods had so much trouble in 1997. One of the great links courses in Scotland, the Old Course is a challenging test of golfing ability. With the wind to contend with, and deep rough interspersed with gorse and broom, accurate shot making is essential. Players should make their scores on the outward nine, as the prevailing north-westerly wind can make the back nine extremely difficult. The No. 13 hole has proven to be the most difficult to par during the Open Championships.

    Maximum handicap: 20 men, 30 women.
  • Par 71, yardage 6,289. Although a links course, the Portland is a little more sheltered than the Royal Troon Old Course and, of course, shorter. The holes meander through terrain filled with gorse and broom and has a generous helping of par-3s, five in all. This is tempered however, with four par-5s, all of which are on the back nine. Unfairly overshadowed by its bigger brother, Portland is a genuine links course and remains in excellent condition throughout the year.
    Maximum handicap: 20 men, 30 women.
    Par 71, yardage 6,289. Although a links course, the Portland is a little more sheltered than the Royal Troon Old Course and, of course, shorter. The holes meander through terrain filled with gorse and broom and has a generous helping of par-3s, five in all. This is tempered however, with four par-5s, all of which are on the back nine. Unfairly overshadowed by its bigger brother, Portland is a genuine links course and remains in excellent condition throughout the year.
    Maximum handicap: 20 men, 30 women.
  • Long regarded as one of the finest courses in the world, the Ailsa came to international prominence with the famous "Duel in the Sun" between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson over the four days of the 1977 Open. The Ailsa has hosted four Open Championships and is consistently rated as one of Britain's top three courses, confirmation that gives it eminence worlwide, with regular rankings within the world's top 20 courses.  Set alongside the glorious Ayrshire coastline, with Arran and Ailsa Craig as backdrops, the par-71, 6,474-yard Turnberry Ailsa scenery mesmerizes golfers as they navigate one of the most challenging and stunning golf courses in the world.  Perhaps the ninth hole is Turnberry's trademark, the remote tee set on a rocky promontory on the edge of the sea, the drive across the corner of the bay and a glimpse of the site of Bruce's Castle. Golfers can stop at the turn for a "wee dram" or a quick lunch at the Turnberry iconic lighthouse before continuing your round over the last nine.   
    Long regarded as one of the finest courses in the world, the Ailsa came to international prominence with the famous "Duel in the Sun" between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson over the four days of the 1977 Open. The Ailsa has hosted four Open Championships and is consistently rated as one of Britain's top three courses, confirmation that gives it eminence worlwide, with regular rankings within the world's top 20 courses.  Set alongside the glorious Ayrshire coastline, with Arran and Ailsa Craig as backdrops, the par-71, 6,474-yard Turnberry Ailsa scenery mesmerizes golfers as they navigate one of the most challenging and stunning golf courses in the world.  Perhaps the ninth hole is Turnberry's trademark, the remote tee set on a rocky promontory on the edge of the sea, the drive across the corner of the bay and a glimpse of the site of Bruce's Castle. Golfers can stop at the turn for a "wee dram" or a quick lunch at the Turnberry iconic lighthouse before continuing your round over the last nine.   
  • Par 71, yardage 6,544. This Ayrshire course holds a special place in the golfing history books, having been the venue for the first-ever Open Championship back in 1860. It last staged an Open in 1925, and the Clubhouse is truly a museum to behold! Ask your Golf Vacation Specialist about adding the "Prestwick Experience" to your trip for sure. Also take some time to walk the streets of the town of Prestwick and visit the Red Lion Inn, where the idea for The Open was hatched over a few pints!


    The first tee sits beside Prestwick Station and the railway line runs all the way down the right-hand side of the opening hole. There are plenty of other holes where a score can come off the tracks, though, the huge 'Cardinal Bunker' providing potential trouble at the third and the 'Himalayas' having to be negotiated at the 206-yard par-3 fifth hole.

    Maximum handicap: 24 men, 28 women.

    Par 71, yardage 6,544. This Ayrshire course holds a special place in the golfing history books, having been the venue for the first-ever Open Championship back in 1860. It last staged an Open in 1925, and the Clubhouse is truly a museum to behold! Ask your Golf Vacation Specialist about adding the "Prestwick Experience" to your trip for sure. Also take some time to walk the streets of the town of Prestwick and visit the Red Lion Inn, where the idea for The Open was hatched over a few pints!


    The first tee sits beside Prestwick Station and the railway line runs all the way down the right-hand side of the opening hole. There are plenty of other holes where a score can come off the tracks, though, the huge 'Cardinal Bunker' providing potential trouble at the third and the 'Himalayas' having to be negotiated at the 206-yard par-3 fifth hole.

    Maximum handicap: 24 men, 28 women.

  • Par 72, yardage 7,300. The newest addition to Loch Lomond Golf Club is Dundonald. Situated by the sea near the legendary town of Troon, Dundonald's soil and climate conditions make the course suitable for year-round play. Designer Phillips said: "My desire was to create a championship Ayrshire-style links course that felt and played as though it was an old rediscovered course, by integrating newly constructed features with existing site features".
    Par 72, yardage 7,300. The newest addition to Loch Lomond Golf Club is Dundonald. Situated by the sea near the legendary town of Troon, Dundonald's soil and climate conditions make the course suitable for year-round play. Designer Phillips said: "My desire was to create a championship Ayrshire-style links course that felt and played as though it was an old rediscovered course, by integrating newly constructed features with existing site features".
  • Gailes Links is a top rated world championship links located near Open venues at Turnberry and Royal Troon in Ayrshire. Gailes Links course which has hosted major championship tournaments was designed by Willie Park of Musselburgh. Gailes was opened in 1892 by Glasgow Golf Club the 9th oldest golf club in the world. Its west coast setting and fabulous condition makes it ideal for summer and winter golf in Scotland. It is simply traditional links at its best.
    Gailes Links is a top rated world championship links located near Open venues at Turnberry and Royal Troon in Ayrshire. Gailes Links course which has hosted major championship tournaments was designed by Willie Park of Musselburgh. Gailes was opened in 1892 by Glasgow Golf Club the 9th oldest golf club in the world. Its west coast setting and fabulous condition makes it ideal for summer and winter golf in Scotland. It is simply traditional links at its best.
  • Par 71, yardage 6,639. This course, near Irvine on the Ayrshire coast, is regarded as a true Scottish links. Featuring undulating terrain, rolling fairways and some of the thickest links rough in Scotland, it provides an almighty test that should be enjoyed time and again. The narrow fairways demand consummate positioning from the tee, and with so many greens tucked away in little hollows or dells, your patience and concentration is pushed to the limit. The middle section of the course can become increasingly difficult when the wind comes off the sea. Simply keeping your mind on the task at hand amid sweeping winds is a challenge in itself.
    Par 71, yardage 6,639. This course, near Irvine on the Ayrshire coast, is regarded as a true Scottish links. Featuring undulating terrain, rolling fairways and some of the thickest links rough in Scotland, it provides an almighty test that should be enjoyed time and again. The narrow fairways demand consummate positioning from the tee, and with so many greens tucked away in little hollows or dells, your patience and concentration is pushed to the limit. The middle section of the course can become increasingly difficult when the wind comes off the sea. Simply keeping your mind on the task at hand amid sweeping winds is a challenge in itself.
  • Par 72, yardage 6,852. Founded in 1887, this club has had an illustrious history and has been an Open Championship qualifying course on occasion. The Barassie course, which incorporates nine of the original and the nine new holes, offers one of the most challenging links tests on the Ayrshire coast. It has already hosted the British Amateur Championships, the European Youths and the Junior Open. Barassie continues to offer the player - visitor and member alike - a continuing challenge.

    Par 72, yardage 6,852. Founded in 1887, this club has had an illustrious history and has been an Open Championship qualifying course on occasion. The Barassie course, which incorporates nine of the original and the nine new holes, offers one of the most challenging links tests on the Ayrshire coast. It has already hosted the British Amateur Championships, the European Youths and the Junior Open. Barassie continues to offer the player - visitor and member alike - a continuing challenge.