Prestwick is the birthplace of Championship Golf. A simple stone remembrance just to the west of Prestwick’s charismatic and charming clubhouse marks the spot where the first Open Championship tee shot was fired towards the 1st fairway in 1860. A 12-hole golf course with the first hole measuring 578 yards was where the prestigious championship was born.
Today the 1st hole is not the original hole, as the course has seen many changes from the Old Tom Morris dozen hole designs.
Prestwick is no stranger to controversy. The quirks of the course have long prevented it from being included in the modern Open Championship rota. The last time the Claret Jug was lifted at Prestwick was in 1925 and won by Jim Barnes.
Prestwick features many ‘quirks’ not often found on the traditional links of Scotland. Blind tee shots, shared fairways, Par 4’s that are makeable in one stroke, gaping bunkers, and Incredible green contours.
In our opinion, the real appeal (ignoring its tremendous history for a brief moment) of playing golf at Prestwick is the variety of holes on offer. The first (Railway) is a great little Par 4 where the railway line actually does play a factor, Right of the fairway is all OOB. Most modern-day golfers would easily take on the green as the first only measures a short 345 from the back tees.
The second possesses the original green from the 12 hole layout and is a mid-length par 3 with 4 very deep bunkers playing guard to the green and is one of our favourite Par 3’s in Scotland.
The 5th Hole (Himalayas) is the first blind tee shot on the course and rewards good golf shots but severely punishes bad ones. Take aim at the disk on the hill and trust your yardage, This can be tricky in prevailing winds. You will not come across many holes like the 5th.
We love the 10th Hole (Arron) which offers impeccable views across the water to the Isle of Arron where in fact Regional Sales Specialist Tom Hall’s favourite Scottish Golf Course lays.
There are just so many good holes at Prestwick, A lot of holes have changed over the years we are not usually keen on, but Prestwick offers so much we actually are fine with that here. The only hole remaining one untouched is the course's best.
The original Alps hole 17th. A blind approach over the Alps dune over the massive Sahara bunker fronting the green is one of golf's greatest shots.
This is the oldest existing golf hole in Championship Golf and one to cherish.
