Ayrshire
The welcoming West Coast
Ayrshire has the distinction of having the two closest Open Championship rota courses in proximity, as Turnberry (1902) and Troon (1878) are about a half hour's drive apart. Complemented by Prestwick (1851), the birthplace of the Open, and several other great options to add to your trip, there is certainly enough depth in this region about 45 minutes southwest of Glasgow to make it a worthy stop during a week of Scottish golf. It’s easy to see why many return visitors consider making this region their home base for an entire trip.
Prestwick hosted the first ever Open Championship in 1860 which was won by Willie Park Sr. At the time it was a 12-hole layout, and was later expanded to 18 holes by Old Tom Morris—once the greenskeeper of this grand old club. Prestwick is too short and compact by modern standards to host a tournament at the highest level, but for mere mortals it can still pose a wicked test.
Ayrshire as a region is reminiscent of East Lothian, with charming towns—like Ayr, Prestwick, and Troon—packed closely together along the coastline. Featuring views out over the Firth of Clyde and the Isle of Arran, you may not be able to actually see Ireland but you can certainly sense it just south and west of you. Given its location, Ayrshire is more exposed to the North Atlantic than other parts of Scotland, meaning the weather can be intense and turn quickly. But if you get caught out in some of the hairier stuff it just means that your post-round Tennent’s, brewed about an hour away, will feel all the more well-earned.
