Old Prestwick Golf Course is probably the most unique golf course you will every play in your life.
Prestwick held the first ever Open Golf Championship back in 1860 and continued to host Open up until 1925.
I’ve loved Old Prestwick since I could first play it simply because it’s not a long course by modern standards and it’s a really quirky course.
- Short iron off the first tee.
- 3 blind holes.
- Undulating fairways and sloping greens.
- 2 par fours you can drive.
- Really enjoyable for all levels and ages.
And if you were lucky enough to be a guest of a member, the hospitality (and Kummel) is exceptional.
It wasn’t until a few years that I learned the origins of The Open started in the pub I used to drink in; The Red Lion.
The story goes that Old Tom Morris, the professional and head green keeper, was challenged to a golf match in the pub one night from other golfers.
And so began The Open.
1st Hole : Railway – Par 4
What an incredible opening hole.
Railway line down the right of the fairway, first shot of the day and the wind generally come in from over your left shoulder.
Take a mid or long iron and aim down the left side of the fairway.
That should leave you with a short iron into a big green.
Your second shot is semi blind over a two large bunkers guarding the green.
You have the railway line way to contend with; so play to the left side of the green.
Championship Tees
345 yards
Medal Tees
345 yards
Senior/Ladies Tees
322 yards
Ladies Tees
278 yards
Par
4
Stroke Index
11
2nd Hole : Tunnel – Par 3
The 2nd is a short par 3 played from an elevated tee down to a green guarded by bunkers front left, front right and back left and right.
An easy hole and good birdie opportunity.
Championship Tees
164 yards
Medal Tees
164 yards
Senior/Ladies Tees
140 yards
Ladies Tees
123 yards
Par
3
Stroke Index
17
3rd Hole : Cardinal – Par 5
You need to drive up the left side of the fairway as there’s a burn running down the right.
In addition, you need to lay up short of 3 hidden fairway bunkers that run away the end of the fairway.
Your second short is played at almost a right angle to a bumpy fairway and the burn continuing down the right side of the rough.
Reachable in two shots for the big hitters but for everyone else, a shot pitch into a very undulating bowl shaped green.
Championship Tees
533 yards
Medal Tees
477 yards
Senior/Ladies Tees
449 yards
Ladies Tees
409 yards
Par
5
Stroke Index
3
4th Hole : Bridge – Par 4
A tricky tee shot for those with a slice or trying to cut the dog leg off the 4th hole.
There are bunkers perfectly positioning on the left and right side of the fairway
The safe drive is down the left side but this leaves a trickier second shot with a bunker front left and a green running away from you.
Championship Tees
417 yards
Medal Tees
384 yards
Senior/Ladies Tees
329 yards
Ladies Tees
312 yards
Par
4
Stroke Index
13
5th Hole : Himalayas – Par 3
A long par 3 over a steep hill down to a long green guarded by 5 bunkers on the left and one on the right.
I’m not fond of a blind tee shot especially at par 3s but this is a great hole nevertheless.
Championship Tees
231 yards
Medal Tees
206 yards
Senior/Ladies Tees
181 yards
Ladies Tees
114 yards
Par
3
Stroke Index
15
6th Hole : Elysian Fields – Par 4
We turn back towards the clubhouse with a fairly straightforward par 4.
A wide fairway with a bunkers either side leaves an approach shot into a slightly deceiving green.
There’s a little hill just before the green which makes the 2nd shot longer than it looks.
Championship Tees
445 yards
Medal Tees
362 yards
Senior/Ladies Tees
340 yards
Ladies Tees
328 yards
Par
4
Stroke Index
15
7th Hole : Monkton Miln – Par 4
For me the 7th to 9th holes are the hardest and least memorable holes on the course.
You need a long, straight drive to this long par 4 that has numerous bunkers up the right side and one bunker on the left.
The second shot is slightly uphill with 2 bunkers short of the green that will catch hitting a low fairway wood into the wind.
Another large green; this hole is the hardest hole on the card.
Championship Tees
484 yards
Medal Tees
430 yards
Senior/LadiesTees
396 yards
Ladies Tees
396 yards
Par
4
Stroke Index
1
8th Hole : End – Par 4
Another long straight drive, slightly downhill, with bunkers perfectly positioned to catch a stray tee shot.
A mid to long iron played downhill to a huge green sloping front to back.
Make sure to check your yardage as the flat fairway gives the impression your second shot is shorter than it appears.
Championship Tees
432 yards
Medal Tees
432 yards
Senior/Ladies Tees
426 yards
Ladies Tees
374 yards
Par
4
Stroke Index
17
9th Hole : Eglinton – Par 4
A really tough hole to close out the outward half.
A strong drive, usually into the wind, need to avoid a series of bunkers down the left side and the deep rough on the right.
Ideally play a utility wood or long iron from the left side of the fairway to a semi blind green that slopes away from you.
Championship Tees
461 yards
Medal Tees
444 yards
Senior/Ladies Tees
415 yards
Ladies Tees
398 yards
Par
4
Stroke Index
17
10th Hole : Arran – Par 4
Another long par 4 played from a slightly raised tee.
A good drive will avoid the left and right bunkers leaving you with a long 2nd shot.
Your approach shot is slightly uphill with a little rise before the green making the shot longer than it seems.
A trademark Prestwick sloped green; long and sloping from back to front.
Championship Tees
453 yards
Medal Tees
453 yards
Senior/Ladies Tees
414 yards
Ladies Tees
414 yards
Par
4
Stroke Index
4
11th Hole : Carrick – Par 3
Finally a par 3 after a run of 5 difficult, long par 4s.
If you look behind you’ll be able to see part of Royal Troon.
Depending on the wind and tees you play, this could be a utility wood or mid iron you play.
A bunker short left and a false front make the hole look short on the eye but trust the yardage.
3 bunkers guard the left and 2 on the right to another challenging putting surface.
Championship Tees
213 yards
Medal Tees
195 yards
Senior/Ladies Tees
168 yards
Ladies Tees
159 yards
Par
3
Stroke Index
16
12th Hole : Wall – Par 5
For me, the next 7 holes are the greatest stretch of holes in Scottish golf.
A long but birdie-able (is that a word) par 5.
Rip a driver long the left side of the fairway avoid the bunkers and fade it back into the middle of the fairway.
Today’s long hitters can probably reach in two shots but for the rest of us you are left with a wedge or short iron into a very peculiar green.
There’s a couple of bunkers 20 yards short of the green, then a false front followed by a sharp rise up to the front of the green.
This is neither a flat green; it slopes back to front and left to right.
Championship Tees
541 yards
Medal Tees
513 yards
Senior/Ladies Tees
459 yards
Ladies Tees
452 yards
Par
5
Stroke Index
8
13th Hole : Sea Headrig – Par 4
A long par 4 driving into a double fairway shared with the 17th hole.
Avoid the bunker on the left of the fairway and be careful of the rough and rugged dune and out of bounds down the right.
You play your approach shot from a sloped fairway into what can only be described as one of the most phenomenal greens you’ll ever play to.
I don’t think my words can do justice to this green.
God must have taken this piece of land, turned it sideways, raised it up high like a castle on a hill and, to further crucify golfers, added ramps so a stray shot falls off the green.
Championship Tees
458 yards
Medal Tees
458 yards
Senior/Ladies Tees
412 yards
Ladies Tees
404 yards
Par
4
Stroke Index
2
14th Hole : Goosedubs – Par 4
This is a gentle par 4 going back to the clubhouse.
A very generous fairway, although there is nasty heather down the left and a fairway bunker on the right.
A mid to short iron into the 14th green guarded by 3 bunkers 20 yards short of the green, 1 bunker front left and 2 hidden bunkers to the back right.
Championship Tees
406 yards
Medal Tees
363 yards
Senior/Ladies Tees
303 yards
Ladies
279 yards
Par
4
Stroke Index
14
15th Hole : Narrows – Par 4
A very tricky tee shot over a hill to a narrow fairway with a bunker on the left of the fairway and tough heather if you miss the right side of the fairway.
A short iron approach, slightly uphill, where you can only see half the flag, to a green sloping front to back and left to right.
A good birdie opportunity.
Championship Tees
353 yards
Medal Tees
353 yards
Senior/Ladies Tees
322 yards
Ladies Tees
291 yards
Par
4
Stroke Index
10
16th Hole : Cardinals Back – Par 4
Most low players should be able to drive this short par 4.
However a pot bunker catches a drive left of centre and the sleepers from the cardinal bunker of the 3rd hole catches a driver leaked right.
Even if you get on or near the green, you are playing to another sloped green making a birdie 3 tricky.
Championship Tees
290 yards
Medal Tees
290 yards
Senior/Ladies Tees
272 yards
Ladies Tees
238
Par
4
Stroke Index
18
17th Hole : Alps – Par 4
You drive from an elevated tee down to a wide fairway; but beware the rough on the left and right can get you tangled up for a very difficult second shot.
A very difficult long, blind approach shot over a hill, over a wide bunker short of the green and down to a bowl shaped green.
This hole can make or break a good round or scorecard at Prestwick.
Championship Tees
394 yards
Medal Tees
394 yards
Senior/Ladies Tees
378 yards
Ladies Tees yards
372 yards
Par
4
Stroke Index
16
18th Hole : Clock – Par 4
And last but not least a short drivable par 4 to finish with.
Drive down the left side of the fairway avoiding the 2 bunkers with a slight fade should see you on or around the green.
Those who drive too far right face a tricky pitch shot over a ridge to a very long and flat putting surface.
Championship Tees
288 yards
Medal Tees
288 yards
Senior/Ladies Tees
247 yards
Ladies Tees yards
230
Par
4
Stroke Index
12