Hidden away in less
obvious parts of town are Prestwick’s two lesser-known courses, St
Cuthbert and St Nicholas. These are not the ugly sisters by any means
and I would strongly assert that they must be played. Prestwick St
Nicholas Golf Club is a real delight with refreshing views over the
sea, in part a real seaside links with ample gorse bushes that put on
a dazzling display early in the year. The course is fill of novel
holes, some a little short but a fair challenge to most golfers. The
6th, 7th and 8th play round an old quarry while the undulating greens
are so pure and true you feel like chalking the putter before you
putt. Prestwick St Cuthberts is further inland, a flatter parkland
affair with tree lined fairways and some fine putting surfaces also.
Don’t be tempted to think this is easy. It is well bunkered and
artfully designed so if it’s a good score you are after be diligent
with every stroke.
Ever
onward into the interior finds Muirkirk Golf Club, a relatively new
moorland layout with scenic views of the Cairn Table. Further south
off the A76 is a testing little nine hole course at New Cumnock
overlooking Loch Side. For a pleasant outing for the children or
beginner golfers seek Out also the par three, 18-hole Roodlea Golf
Course, still in its infancy but quite good fun. Doon Valley near
Patna is another nine-holer you might want to pass by. But that would
be a mistake it can be quite challenging. The name should tell
you something set on the side of the valley it catches the wind
whichever way it’s going. This hilly course is very scenic and with
20,000 new trees planted it will continue to develop into a good test.
There are many able holes with the 5th being the most memorable, a par
three playing across a gully with out of-bounds on the right. People
constantly come off this course remarking how enjoyable it was so get
down to Doon Valley.
And so
we find our way back into the region’s capital of Ayr, Rabbie’s
home turf. The "Twa Brigs" that he famously referred to in
his poem of the same name still stand although the younger was washed
away and replaced, much as was predicted in Burns poem. Ayr is the
largest of the region’s towns, once an important seaport and trading
centre before becoming a popular resort for middle class Victorians.
It’s still a holiday escape and there is plenty of good
accommodation and eateries as well as sites and attractions associated
with Robert Burns.
BELLEISLE
- Belleisle would probably be the best public golf course in Scotland
if it were not for those upstarts, St Andrews and Carnoustie. That’s
how good it is, and surely one of the few true municipals to host
professional tournaments. As we mentioned before, such is its
reputation that top European professionals playing at nearby Troon or
Turnberry will sneak away to try it out. Belleisle is a classic and a
parkland course of genuine character. Set in the harmonious woodlands
of Belleisle Park, its beech-tree-lined and extra long fairways are
interlaced by a serpentine old burn.
Designed
by James Braid in 1927, there are only two par fours under 400 yards
and a cracker of a par three at the l7th. You may not, for some reason
manage Turnberry, Royal Troon or Prestwick but, whatever you do,
don’t miss this! The Seafield Course is on the same estate as
Belleisle, a good deal shorter than its neighbour but wish a variety
of terrain within its 10 parkland and eight links-type holes.A less
obvious choice on the outskirts of Ayr is the 18-hole parkland of
Dalmilling Set between the famous Ayr Racecourse and the A77, this is,
as they say, "honest and open parkland that plays away from she
clubhouse and dips into a rolling valley The River Ayr borders the
southern end of the course with some of its tributary burns adding
interest to the early holes especially the 6th, a 135 yard par three
that is virtually surrounded by water.
MAYBOLE
- The A77 leads on to Turnberry and into the Dumfries and Galloway
region with the ferry port of Stranraer only 50 miles from Ayr.
Maybole is a delightful, nine-hole "town" course that
is rather hilly but offers splendid views of the Carrick Hills. Do not
be misled by the overall length (the longest hole is 371 yards) and
the undulating fairways and small, well-protected greens call for
shot-making of a high standard. There is also a pool and bowling green
adjacent to she starter’s box. Even if you do not intend stopping
and staying at she sumptuous Turnberry Hotel, turn in and appreciate
its commanding aspect looking over the two courses with she
distinctive Turnberry Lighthouse away in the distance. In the most
southerly pars of the region, just as the island of Arran and its
ominous peaks dominate the views in the north, so Ailsa Craig, a plug
of an extinct volcanic, can be seen from most points in the south.
BRUNSTON
CASTLE - Situated six miles east of Turnberry and the Ayrshire coast,
Brunston Castle is a relatively new layout opened in 1992 and to my
mind an exceptional course well worth seeking out. The opening holes
play out and back along the River Girvan and are straightforward
enough. The fairly wide river comes into play on she 7th, Stroke Index
1, where the narrow fairway runs parallel with the river pulling
anything left off the tee into thick grass lining the banks or, worse
still, into the river itself. The back nine run over the valley side
with the 12th, 13th and 14th skirting its slopes.This is a very
well-thought-out course, quite long and demanding and perhaps a little
wet at certain times of the year, but in the right conditions it could
be one of the best park-land courses in the area.
GIRVAN
- The final outpost in this southerly half of the area is the town of
Girvan. You see the signposts for she golf course just before entering
the town. Girvan Golf Club occupies a unique stretch of land where the
opening eight holes play out along the beach. The back ten holes of
the course are semi-parkland compared to the semi-links of the front
eight. The River Girvan runs through the back nine and comes into play
at the 15th. A strong feature of this course is the fairly long par
threes, all usually exacerbated by the wind when these threes
effectively become fours.There are four par 3’s on the first nine
and four on the back nine and, if you don’t score on these, your
score is wrecked. Girvan is a unique municipal course and one I would
strongly recommend you sample if you score well here you have
played very well indeed.
BALLOCHMYLE
- Still exploring the hinterland, Ballochmyle was another course I had
never heard of but, as soon as we looked out over the opening and
closing holes, we knew we were going to like it. It is one of those
attractive parklands that get your fingers twitching to grasp a club.
No wonder Rabbie Burns waxed lyrical about the place when he visited
his friend, Sir John Whiteford, then owner of the estate. Two of the
poet’s most beautiful songs resulted from the experience:
"Farewell the Braes o’ Ballochmyle" and "The Bonnie
Lass o’ Ballochmyle". Who knows, if Rabbie had taken up the
game and played at Ballochmyle, he might have found a new hobby and
the world could have been one bard less. |
