West Coast
Prestwick Golf Club, just west of Glasgow, is where The Open Championship began. But don’t expect a dated, quirky course when you visit. Prestwick might be something of a shrine but its course is almost 6,800 yards from the back tees, and given that the closing four holes are short par fours (perfect for match-play), it’s almost as serious as they come. It will never stage another Open Championship beyond the twenty-fourth one it laid on in 1925, but that’s explained by visitor numbers, crowd sizes, more than weaknesses of the course in the world of modern golf. There are, admittedly, three blind shots and there are many severe slopes. But it’s not the museum piece one might expect from reading about it elsewhere. Its glorious neighbour, Royal Troon, still plays host to The Open.
Of the newer courses on the same wonderful seven mile stretch of golf along the Ayrshire coast, Dundonald should certainly be added to itineraries. Kyle Philips, who laid out Kingsbarns, created this somewhat unsung masterpiece. Dundonald is owned by The Loch Lomond Golf Club, home to The Scottish Open for the last 15 years. Just north of Glasgow, in one of Scotland’s most stunning settings, Loch Lomond is one of Scotland’s most private clubs. Visitors will have excellent contact books because they must be a member’s guest to play at this pricey and prestigious venue.
