Prestwick Golf Club lies on Scotland’s southwest Ayrshire Coast. It is the original host of The Open Championship. Designed by Old Tom Morris in 1851, the Club has hosted 24 Open Championships; there is no greater prestige outside St Andrews Old Course than playing Prestwick Golf Club. The Golf Club lies just 40 minutes southwest of Glasgow, not far from other legendary Ayrshire golf destinations including Turnberry Resort, Royal Troon Golf Club, Dundonald Links & Western Gailes. Prestwick Golf Club epitomises historic Scottish Golf with a ranked World Top 100 links golf course. With unrivalled history and charm, there are few places as authentic in the world of golf. All images provided by Prestwick Golf Club & taken by Mark Alexander.
Laid out as a 12-hole course in 1851 by the legend Old Tom Morris, Prestwick has a links design through and through. The Course was extended to 18-holes in 1883. The British Open was it was known until recently, was held at Prestwick Golf Course from 1860 until 1873 when it moved to St Andrews. The course meanders through mildly undulating terrain, with holes laid out in a back-and-forth manner. Expect a number of blind holes with numerous sleeper-lined bunkers; Prestwick made the idea of lining bunkers with railway sleepers popular. The greens at Prestwick are firm and fast with notorious contours.
The holes are laid out in an out-and-back route, with the ninth hole the furthest from the clubhouse. Challenges come in various forms, and consist mainly of well-placed bunkers, long rough & undulating terrain. Combine that with fickle Scottish weather and difficult greens and you have a championship golf course. The variety of golf holes is a focal point of Prestwick Golf Club, in particular, the holes playing along or across the Pow Burn offer serious fun, including the third, fourth, fifth and tenth. Much is often said of historic courses failing to live up to expectations; Prestwick Golf Course will surprise you.
The Clubhouse
The Clubhouse at Prestwick is full of old-world charm and golden-age memorabilia. With views over the golf course from the two-storey building, The Clubhouse offers a warm welcome to visiting golfers. In a typical manner for old-world clubhouses, the Smoke & Dining rooms require a jacket, collar tie for gentlemen, and a change from golfing attire for the ladies. Guided tours of the Clubhouse are encouraged, as are the ‘club membership’ experience for the day which includes a round on the golf course, a guided tour of the clubhouse and a meal in the dining room. Other features of the Clubhouse include a Pro Shop stocked with an impressive range of clothing & accessories, as well as lockers that have been in use since the 1880s.
Practice Facilities
Being one of the oldest clubs in Scotland, there was never a driving range at Prestwick Golf Club. There still isn’t due to a lack of space & the fact that The Club favours the traditional approach to the game. There is a putting green and short-game area for those wanting to warm up before your round.
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