-- The Editor

Prestwick - A Throwback Among Throwbacks.
By: David Joy

Prestwick's story begins in 1849, when the Glasgow and Southwest Railway linked with Ayr on the west coast of Scotland. Hardly a landmark in railway annals, but a dramatic point in golf history, as suddenly this linksland was easily accessible. And, by coincidence, golf balls had become affordable with the feathery ball being replaced rapidly by the gutta percha. Meanwhile, The Earl of Eglinton, who owned a patch of rough linksland about three miles north of Ayr on Scotland's west coast decided, now that he had transport, he would invite Tom Morris Sr. from St. Andrews to lay out a "green". Morris built 12 holes in a cramped and restricted area, but he took full advantage of all the contours and ambience of the site, which included stunning views across the sea to the Isle of Arran. The Club was officially founded in 1851 and Morris would remain as the "Keeper of the Green" for 13 years before returning to St. Andrews where he maintained the Old Course for nearly 40 years.

In 1859, Prestwick members decided to conduct a challenge the following year that would crown the land's greatest golfer. In 1860, the first Open Championship, eight players vied for a red Moroccon leather belt with silver clasps which would serve as the tournament's trophy until 1870. Willie Park emerged victorious and was declared "The Champion Golfer of the Year" with three 12-hole rounds of 55, 59 and 60 providing a two shot margin over his arch rival Morris. Park would go on to win two more championships, Morris would win four, but when Morris' son Tom Jr claimed three consecutive victories from 1868-1870 the belt was his to keep. Confounded by the lack of a trophy, there was no competition in 1871. The tournament resumed in 1872 but it was not until 1873 that Prestwick, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St.Andrews, and the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers joined to purchase, for £30, a silver claret jug.

Prestwick's place in the game's history is reason enough to visit, and when you do, don't be a baby. Set your jaw and tighten your belt. You're going to hit more blind tee shots and approaches than you'll see the rest of your trip. Severely sloped greens surrounded by insanely deep bunkers protect flag after flag. Accuracy will reward before length on this course like none other you have every played.

Your first swing is do or die. Running the entire right side of "Railway's" 346 yards is the train track and out of bounds. #3 is the "Cardinal", 482 yards and the number 1 handicap hole which earns high praise from Harry Vardon: "The third at Prestwick is one that stirs the soul of the daredevil golfer, for, after he has dispatched the ball well and safely from the tee, he finds a big gaping bunker, the famous Cardinal, ahead of him for his second - an ugly brute that gives a sickening feeling to the man who is off his game. Defy this bunker, be on the green with your brassie, put a 4 on your card and you have done something which should make you happy for the morning."

The fifth is the famous Himalayas, a blind, uphill 3 par that plays over 200 yards as one of the greatest hit-and-hope holes in the game. A solitary post planted on top of the dune in front of the green marks your line. Fifteen feet left or right of the post, and one of the nasty greenside pits circling will snatch your ball. Leave it short and the unruly slope that hides the green will incarcerate your ball.

Making the turn, you will now be called upon for accuracy and length. The tenth stands at 454 yards and has hazards awaiting at every juncture. The eleventh is a demanding 195 three par protected by six deep bunkers. The thirteenth is a 460 par four exacerbated by the prevailing wind but always a trick with its green running at a forty five degree angle away from the fairway. (Keep in mind that its always been fun at Prestwick: in 1851, when 200 yard tee shots were a fluke, the first hole measured 568!)

The closing stretch at Prestwick is a wondrous finish called "the loop". Fifteen is Narrows, requiring what you probably expect, perfect placement off the tee then deft touch over the ridge running just short of the green The sixteenth is a drivable par four at 288, but a hair right and you'll fine one deep, deep bunker Houdini couldn't escape.

The 288-yard 16th is drivable but hardly defenseless with an eccentric green and a hidden bunker called "Willie Campbell's Grave," 250 yards down the fairway, where Willie took four swings to escape costing him the 1887 Open. The 17th, "Alps," is another signature hole and was the original second of the first Open Championship. After driving between gorse like canyon walls, a blind approach is all carry over the massive "Sahara" bunker protecting a wilding sloping green.. Eighteen is "Clock", straight back to the clubhouse wall like St. Andrews and drivable at 284 yards.

While Prestwick will never host her 25th Open, she remains with seven of her original greens, a modern tournament test most recently hosting the Amateur Championship in 2001.

Reprinted with permission of LINKS - The Best of Golf magazine.

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