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— Center of the Golfing Universe —

One of the founding clubs of modern golf,
laid out by Old Tom Morris in 1851,
and site of Britain's first Open Championship.

THE COURSE: Prestwick is one of several well-known courses along the Ayrshire Coast of southwestern Scotland, not far southwest of Glasgow. Its close neighbors include two famed courses from the current British Open rotation: Royal Troon and Turnberry (Ailsa). Designed by Old Tom Morris in 1851, Prestwick is known for its undulating fairways and greens, challenging tee shots, and difficult natural rough. Technically an inland course, rather than a links, Prestwick is laid out along the course of a meandering

POT BUNKERS, 15TH HOLE, PRESTWICK GOLF CLUB

creek, Pox Burn, with fourteen holes wedged between the creek and the parallel seashore.
        Its greens fees, at about £130 per round weekdays, are high compared to some of its lesser-known neighbors like BARASSIE or GLASGOW GAILES, but lower than Troon or Turnberry. And, being open to the public makes Prestwick much more accessible than Troon, where visitors play only as invited guests of members, or Turnberry, where course access is restricted to those staying at the expensive Turnberry resort hotel. Like many Scottish courses, blind shots, narrow fairways, and tricky coastal weather conditions make the hiring of a course caddy a wise investment.
        Prestwick, like all the great shrines of Scottish golf, becomes very busy each year the British Open is held in Scotland. The first British Open was played at Prestwick in 1860. It was on the British Open rotation until 1925, and hosted the Open fully 24 times. Once the Open began to draw large crowds, Prestwick was deemed too confining a course and was withdrawn from participation in the Open. However, Prestwick still maintains its long and honorable association with the British Amateur championship, and hosted its 11th Amateur (in the last 113 years) in 2001.
        Please note, visitor tee times are available at most times Mondays through Fridays, but not Thursday afternoons, and available at restricted times on weekends and holidays. Prestwick does offer lunch in its dining room Tuesdays through Fridays between 12:30-2:30PM. This service is restricted to "gentlemen only", who are required to wear jacket and tie. Alternatively, a daily snack lunch is available to men and women in the course's Cardinal Room each weekday from 10AM-3:30PM. Course attire is acceptable in the Cardinal Room.
 

COURSE HISTORY: Prestwick's history is wild and wooly and has contributed much to the legendary lore of 19th century golf in Scotland, when three courses, St. Andrews, Muirfield, and Prestwick were the great venues of the golfing world. Old Tom Morris was lured across Scotland from St. Andrews in 1851 to become its designer, greens keeper, and equipment maker. Before he returned to St. Andrews in 1864, Old Tom collected 3 Open victories at Prestwick. His son, Tom Morris, Jr., won several Opens here as well, and set the all-time low score on the original 12-hole course.
        Many Prestwick landmarks have taken on names keeping alive old legends: bunkers named after famous, and tragic losses (the Cardinal's Nob; Willie Campbell's Grave), the Elysian Fields fairways, the Zareba Hollow, and the Hartz Mountains all recall famous rounds at Prestwick from the mists of at least a century ago.

OLD TOM MORRIS, 3-TIME BRITISH
OPEN CHAMPION AND COURSE
DESIGNER AT PRESTWICK

        Golfers looking to get a feel for the rich history of golf in Scotland often overlook Prestwick. The course remains challenging, and its history and legend virtually unrivaled. Golfers should be very pleased that Prestwick remains so accessible, and so little changed for over 100 years.
 

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