Ayrshire Golf Courses - Trump Turnberry Resort

The course at Prestwick is famous for its first hole which runs parallel to the train line, just yards from the fairway. Prestwick GC also shares its boundaries with Royal Troon and is just 20 minutes from Turnberry, with Open final qualifying courses such as Kilmarnock Barassie, Gailes Links, Western Gailes and Irvine Bogside all within just 5 minutes drive. Prestwick was the first course to hold the Open Championship.

The Old Course at Royal Troon is one of the world’s great links courses. There is the wind to contend with, and deep rough interspersed with gorse and broom, so accurate shot making is essential. There are all the classic challenges of links golf with bumps, hollows and pot bunkers.

Players should make their scores on the outward nine, as the prevailing north-westerly wind can make the back nine extremely difficult. The most famous hole is the 8th - the Postage Stamp – a short par three played to a tiny green!

Troon has played host to the Open Championship on many occasions with past winners including the great Tom Watson. There was plenty of drama in 1989 when American Mark Calcavechia triumphed over Australians Greg Norman and Wayne Grady in a play-off after Norman had fought his way back on the final day with a course record 64.

"The Ailsa is easily one of the finest courses in the world" Sandy Lyle

Long regarded as one of the finest courses in the world, the Turnberry Ailsa came to international prominence with the famous duel between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson over the four days of the 1977 Open. It was then, in brilliant sunny weather, that a capacity crowd was treated to an exhilarating display of golf from two of the best golfers the world has ever known.

From the admirable short fourth to the short 11th the Ailsa Course follows the shoreline. The ninth is Turnberry's signature hole, with the remote tee set on a rocky cliff top on the edge of the sea, with the drive across the corner of the bay and a glimpse of the site of Bruce's Castle (Robert the Bruce, Scottish King, 1306-1329).

The scenic glories of the Ailsa Course are to be savoured - the granite dome of Ailsa Craig and the famous lighthouse.

The Turnberry - King Robert the Bruce is links golf at its exhilarating best, with undulating greens, glorious fairways and magnificent ocean holes.

The view that greets you from the brow of Bain's Hill is just one moment among many you'll want to savour again and again. As the short ascent is made from the 7th green, it is as if a theatrical curtain is opened to reveal a stunning set. The extra elevation multiplies the panorama that stretches in every direction, but the shots, too, are breathtaking.

Widely regarded as the Kintyre's signature hole, the 8th, involves a drive from an elevated tee towards the sea and an unforgettable blind second shot to the green set in a gully by the rocks. Unseen from the tee, hidden by a narrow ridge, the green is in a cove that seems to merge with the craggy beach beyond. As for the 9th, an invigorating drive offers the choice between adventure and caution. The par 5 is beautifully set against the background of the renowned landmarks of Turnberry, Ailsa Craig and the Lighthouse.

Not bad for a number 2 course!

Western Gailes is a quality links golf course and challenge, with deep rough and bunkering interspersed with gorse, accurate shot making is essential. Players should make their scores on the outward nine, as the prevailing north-westerly wind can make the back nine extremely difficult. Water features (burns) also await wayward approach shots.