Any golfing trip to Scotland must include a visit to Ayrshire and the Sun-set Coast. Immerse yourself in golfing history, walk in the footsteps of legends and play some of the world's most iconic courses.
Ayrshire, often called 'Burns Country' as its beautiful landscapes provided inspiration for the works of renowned romantic poet Robert Burns, has majestic views over The Firth of Clyde to Arran, The Holy Isle and of Ailsa Craig, where the sun-sets never fail to impress.
Ayrshire has an abundance of hotels, first class transport links and is within easy reach of Glasgow, the commercial heart of Scotland.
There are nearly fifty golf courses in Ayrshire. We have selected just a handful for you:
Dundonald Links
Gailes Links
Kilmarnock (Barassie) G.C.
Prestwick
Prestwick St Nicholas
Royal Troon
The West Kilbride G. C.
Trump Turnberry
Western Gailes
More reasons to visit Ayrshire
Birthplace of The Open
The historic roots of The Open as we know it today can be traced back to Ayrshire. A simple stone cairn to the west of the clubhouse at Prestwick Golf Course marks the spot where the first Open Championship tee shot was struck back in 1860. Eight players competed and Willie Park of Musselburgh won the match. His prize: a red Morocco leather belt with silver clasps and an ornamental silver buckle. Its cost: a whopping £25. Prestwick Golf Course presided over the first twelve Open Championships, and last hosted the tournament in 1925. Why not tee off for a round of gowff (golf) at the birthplace of The Open yourself?
“This is what it is all about, isn’t it?”
The immortal words the eventual winner of The Open in 1977, Tom Watson uttered to Jack Nicklaus at the 16th hole 'Wee Burn' on The Ailsa course at Turnberry as they battled each other in the iconic 'Duel in the Sun'. Who are we to argue with the great Tom Watson. You too can follow in the footsteps of the giants of the game and find out for yourself “what it is all about”. Visit Turnberry.
Can you lick the Postage Stamp?
All golfers know that to post a low score you need to play well on Par 3s … simple right? Well, it is until you meet certain par 3s. Introducing 'Postage Stamp' at Royal Troon. The tee is on high ground and often a stiff breeze blows in from The Firth of Clyde. The shot is played over a gully to a long but extremely narrow green, 'the size of a postage stamp'. Two bunkers protect the left side of the green, while a large crater bunker shields the approach. Any mistake on the right will find one of the two deep bunkers with near vertical faces, at which point you should start to light up your first Hamlet cigar. Alternatively, a misplaced shot will find punishing rough or run off areas that require a deftness of touch to get you back on the putting surface. Quite simply, you must find the green with the tee-shot. The 8th on The Old Course at Royal Troon is the shortest hole in Open Championship golf. Could you lick the Postage Stamp?
