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By David Brice
Golf International, Inc.

The stretch of Western Scotland's Ayrshire coastline, extending northward from Turnberry, to the county town of Ayr and on to Prestwick, Troon and Irvine, may only be 30 miles in length, but it contains a virtual treasure trove of top-drawer golf. There are almost two dozen quality layouts concentrated into this small area and among them, some of the greatest names known in not only Scottish golf, but golf circles throughout the world.

What Prestwick lacks in aesthetics is more than compensated by the challenge.

This is home to some of the most revered names known to the game, such as current British Open venues, Royal Troon and Turnberry, recently elevated to the position of number one course in the entire British Isles. This is where you will also find Prestwick Golf Club, one of the world's most historic and birthplace of The Open Championship in 1860.

There are also some gems of courses with names less familiar to most visitors that have somehow been lost in the plethora of excellent golf that abounds along this coast. Often the equal of their more famous neighbors, they are well appreciated by the locals, who maybe prefer to keep these secrets to themselves. But for any visitor who ventures even a few miles from the beaten path to find them, the rewards are waiting.

Western Gailes may be the shining star in the galaxy of superb courses along this coastline and many believe it should have been made a British Open venue years ago. Limited grounds, unable to accommodate the Open crowds, parking and other facilities required of any Open venue, meant it would never be, but this takes nothing from the magnificence of the layout. Western Gailes remains a course for the true connoisseurs of the game.

The legend that is Prestwick Golf Club.

There's the exceptional layout at Dundonald, sister course of world famous and ultra exclusive, Loch Lomond Golf Club. Designed by Californian Kyle Phillips of Kingsbarns fame, Dundonald is a stunning, classic links that seems to have been sitting here for centuries.

Glasgow Gailes is another excellent links, too often overlooked by visitors, as are Kilmarnock Barassie and Irvine, all three used as qualifying courses whenever The Open is being held on the Ayrshire Coast. And so the list goes on, but perhaps the single course most worthy of extra attention is distinguished, Prestwick Golf Club.

Founded in 1851, a full 27 years before its neighbor, Troon Golf Club, Prestwick is a microcosm of golf's history, not to be missed by even those with only a passing interest in all that has occurred in the 600 year since golf came to be.

The very first Open Championship was held here in 1860, to determine golf's champion player. The tournament attracted a meager field of just eight professionals from clubs around Scotland and they played 3 rounds over the 12-holes that was the entirety of Prestwick's course to determine the winner. Willie Park of Musselburgh won the tournament and became the very first Open Champion, beating Old Tom Morris, the Prestwick professional, by two strokes.

Prestwick hosted 24 British Open Championships in all.

Prestwick went on to host The Open for each of the next 11 years the event was held. It continued as an Open venue, alternating with St. Andrews, Musselburgh, Muirfield, Sandwich (now known as Royal St. Georges) and Hoylake (Royal Liverpool) until 1925 when Prestwick hosted the 60th British Open.

This was to be Prestwick's final Open and it was retired from the circuit having been selected as the site of the world's most prestigious golf tournament on no less than 24 occasions. Only St. Andrews Old Course has exceeded this impressive record and that wasn't accomplished until 1995, providing some perspective as to Prestwick's relevance to the game of golf.

The 18-hole Prestwick of today still retains 7 of the original 12 greens those 8 professionals played with hickory clubs and feather stuffed balls, back in 1860. It's perhaps not surprising the atmosphere throughout is one of playing truly hallowed ground.

Prestwick Clubhouse filled with history and a warm welcome.

Best described as a traditional, classic links, the course has secured an ominous reputation for its blind holes, humps, hillocks and greens that may appear to be quirkily contoured. No less a shock to the first time visitor are the steep faced, pot bunkers, some of which are well over 6 feet deep. A typical first reaction is to call the course unfair, but Prestwick has been this way since its beginnings and this is how it tested those first Open players in 1860.

A round of golf on Prestwick is an historic experience and should be savored and enjoyed as such. You will be stepping back in time and literally walking in the footsteps of those great players and pioneers of 150 years ago. Your advantage is that you will be playing with the help of modern technology and not the hickory clubs of old.

After golf, take an hour or two to explore Prestwick's clubhouse, containing an outstanding collection of golf memorabilia and even more of the rich history, which sets golf apart from other sports. The Prestwick experience is unquestionably unique and something not to be missed by any serious golfer.

For more ideas on how to include historic Prestwick and even more of Ayrshire's amazing links courses in your golf travel plans, click here.

© 2007 David Brice / Golf International Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Golf International -- Providers of quality golf travel arrangements since 1988.