


Prestwick is where The Open Championship began in 1860. Though no longer on the rota, the course remains an essential pilgrimage for lovers of golf’s origins. Designed by Old Tom Morris, Prestwick is a celebration of bold features and strategic quirk. You’ll find blind shots, railway lines, crisscrossing fairways, and wild green complexes that reward invention. The 1st hole is famously tight – just yards from a stone wall and the clubhouse – and sets the tone for a round unlike any other. The par-3 5th, “Himalayas,” is played entirely blind over a massive dune. The par-4 17th, “Alps,” requires a second shot over a towering hill to a hidden green. There’s nothing formulaic here. Prestwick asks questions no modern course dares to, and the joy is in answering them creatively. Despite its age, it remains a challenge due to firm turf, penal bunkers, and unpredictable wind. It’s not about score – it’s about experience. Walking these fairways is walking through golf’s living history.
Designer
Opened
Tee time availability
Special information
Tiger’s best round
Rory’s best round
Mens course record
Ladies course record
Round duration
Caddy guide
Buggies
Embrace the unpredictability. Distance control and creativity are more important than power. Accept the odd bad bounce and focus on clever shot-making.
Stay calm when facing the unusual. Trust your caddie and play the course with a sense of fun. Fairways are firm, so use the ground to your advantage.
Playable and full of joy. Don’t be fazed by blind shots – rely on your caddie or markers, and enjoy the storytelling nature of the course.
9 – firm, true, and historically kept at a medium pace
Often swirling due to dunes and proximity to the coast. Club selection can vary wildly hole to hole.
Generally good – small groups, excellent course marshals, and traditional etiquette
Legendary start. A stone wall, railway, and clubhouse gallery all within view – it’s a nerve-jangler
Historic and traditional – one of the most atmospheric in the world
The 5th (“Himalayas”) is a blind par-3 with a green hidden behind a dune – unforgettable. The 17th (“Alps”) is a par-4 with a blind second over the famous Sahara bunker. The 1st is a claustrophobic but iconic opener along the railway.
West coast weather – more rainfall than Fife, but with great spring and autumn light. Expect changing skies, coastal breezes, and firm turf thanks to sandy soil.