Play today at Prestwick (tbc).   Only the Old Course has hosted The Open more often than Prestwick, the last of 24 played here was in 1925. Eleven of the first twelve Opens were played on Old Tom Morris’ twelve-hole layout beginning in 1860.  Six holes were added in 1883.  One of the club’s great strengths is variety.  There are blind shots.  Uphill holes and those that play downhill and sidehill. Greens in hollows and plateau greens.  Driveable par fours and those you’ll be delighted to reach in two.  Perhaps most famous is “Alps” the 394-yard 17th.  The narrow fairway runs straight up a steep sandhill which hides a generous green guarded in front by the notorious “Sahara” bunker framed with revetted sod and railroad ties interrupted only by wooden steps to allow you in and out. 

WEBCAST - A Greenside Chat: "The Story of the First Club to Host The Open" ~ Prestwick Golf Club

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Your Itinerary

The 4-star Marine Hotel is a grand building with magnificent views over the Firth of Clyde to the Isle of Arran, overlooking Royal Troon Golf Course. Built-in 1894, The Marine Hotel was designed by notable Glaswegian architects Salmon and Gillespie and is a significant landmark in Troon. Now newly refurbished, it features subtle Scottish themes, fabrics and textures all laced with the history of the building and surrounding area. 

Play Royal Troon (tbc).   Royal Troon is a course in the current Open rota.  Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Tom Weiskopf (his only win in a major) have won here as did Henrik Stenson whose Sunday round of 63 outlasted Phil Mickelson’s 65 to claim The 145th Open.  It is a long links course but it is consistently praised for its testing but fair set up. Troon boasts both the longest and the shortest holes among Open venues, being the “Postage Stamp” 8th at 126 yards, and the 6th at 601 yards named “Turnberry”.  The layout gives you a chance to find your game with a gentle opening but the inward nine is considered one of the most difficult sides in major championship golf.

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Click here to watch how to play the Postage Stamp

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Today play Dumbarnie Links (tbc).  Dumbarnie Links is one of Scotland’s newest links courses opened in 2020.  Located 9 miles south of St Andrews, the layout plays over 345 acres, part of the 5,000-acre Balcarres Estate held by Lord Anthony Balniel and his family since the 16th century.  Designed by Clive Clark, a member of the 1973 Great Britain and Ireland Ryder Cup team, the site is highlighted by a mile and a half of sea frontage featuring panoramic views over the Firth of Forth.  Its dual elevations, which are connected by a flowing escarpment, provide a number of elevated tees where holes play directly towards the sea. The design incorporates three potentially drivable par-4s along with several holes that present tempting risk/reward opportunities.  This course is designed to inspire rather than intimidate golfers.  Total yardage varies from 5,300 to 6,900 yards.

Drone Footage - Dumbarnie Links, Scotland
WEBCAST - A Greenside Chat: "The Story of Scotland's Newest Links" ~ Dumbarnie Links

Dumbarnie Links, Scotland by LINKS Magazine

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Your Itinerary

Occupying a landmark 1600's building, overlooking the iconic Old Course, the Home of Golf, the hotel is the newest offering from Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts.  Reopened in July 2021 following a major transformation and extension housing new rooms overlooking the 18th fairway.  Warm woods and antique furnishings meet luxurious materials and mystical touches to create a vivid ode to the Highlands and Linksland of Scotland. Selected rooms feature prime views of the surrounding courses and natural landscapes, and come with a wide array of fine amenities to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.  A stunning destination rooftop 18 sits on the fourth floor of the new extension to the previous footprint and its full glass wall offers a panoramic view across the Old Course, West Sands and the North Sea.  The ground floor will house The Bridge, for casual all-day dining option and One Under Bar, an intimate, underground bar will serve the very best pub favourites, beers, whiskies and cocktails.   

Today play Panmure (tbc). Just a matter of minutes from Carnoustie and slightly inland is Panmure, one of the game’s oldest clubs formed in 1845.  The present site in Barry is yet another Old Tom Morris design which James Braid lengthened in 1922 to produce the essence of a course sturdy enough to host final qualifying for The Open. This is where Ben Hogan spent two weeks practicing for the 1953 Open at Carnoustie (which he won) after famously mowing Panmure’s 17th green himself to his specifications! Please note a very limited supply of golf carts are available for hire. Certain restrictions may apply, please advise your Golf Travel Specialist.

WEBCAST - A Greenside Chat: "The Story of Panmure Golf Club" ~ Epitomizing the Essence of Scottish Golf

Panmure Golf Club, Scotland by LINKS Magazine

Today play Kingsbarns (tbc). Golf dates to a nine-hole layout here in 1793.  It was commandeered by the military during the Second World War not to reappear until Kyle Phillips took an interest in the late 1990s. His design ushered in the era of “modern classics” when it opened in 2000 looking like it had been there for years.  The terrain is links style perfection with tumbling fairways and sandy soil that produce the fine-bladed fescues which are the cornerstone of fast-and-firm playing surfaces that characterise links golf.  The fairways are spacious, the greens are large, exceptional views of the North Sea are found on every hole.

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Today play Carnoustie  (tbc).  The first record of golf played on this links land dates to 1527.  In 1842, a 10-hole course was designed by Alan Robertson followed by an 18-hole course by Old Tom Morris in 1857.  James Braid extended the layout in 1926 which is essentially the links found today. While it is relatively flat, Carnoustie is exposed to the elements. A combination of length and accuracy are required as golfers face narrow corridors from the tee while approach shots demand precision to greens heavily guarded by steep bunkers and burns. Arguably the toughest finishing holes in championship golf are found here highlighted by the par-4, 476 yard 14th and the 245 yard par-3 16th. Ben Hogan won The 82nd Open at Carnoustie in 1953. Tom Watson and Gary Player also hoisted the Claret Jug here as has Padraig Harrington and mostly recently Francesco Molinari in 2018.

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