Course Review
History
Prestwick Golf Club occupies rare air when it comes to golf's history.
Old Tom Morris designed the course in 1851 and stayed on for 13 years as 'keeper of the green', before ultimately returning to St Andrews. Morris only had a small pocket of undulating land to work with and produced a 12 hole course with real character.
Championships
The Open Championship was initiated by Prestwick GC with the inaugural event being staged in 1860.. Players looped 3 times around the 12 hole course
Prestwick went on to host the first 12 Opens and 24 times in total.
The last Open at Prestwick was in 1925, when the overcrowding of the tiny facility saw it's posiiton in the Open Rota forfeited to Carnoustie.
Among the more notable winners at Prestwick were greenkeeper Tom Morris Snr 4 times, Willie Park Snr 4 times and Tom Morris Jnr 3 times
Course
Prestwick's original 12 hole course was expanded to 18 holes in 1883, and while many of the quirky features of the old course were retained it is only the seventeenth hole (Alps) which remained intact.
Seven green complexes remain, although some are played to from different directions than originally designed. Importantly the famous Cardinal and Sahara bunkers survived the makeover.
Playing Prestwick really is a step back in time.
The clubhouse oozes history, and the course bears no resemblance to the modern Open Championship courses.
It is short and quirky and blind shots abound.
I always look forward to the start and finish at Prestwick, and feel like I have wandered on to another golf course when I get to some of the flatter terrain further from the clubhouse.
There are decent holes out there but without the same sense of adventure as those closer to home.
Prestwick gives us a glimpse of what golf was like in it's formative years.
It is quirky, and testing, and great fun
Every golfer who loves the history of golf, should play Prestwick.
Notable Holes
Hole 1 (Railway) - The start is quite unique- a short par 4, with the railway line very much in play along the right perimeter - it seems so close to the green! There are detailed instructions on the tee, so you have some idea how to play it.
Hole 2 (Tunnel) - a testing par 3 with bunkers front and back - you need to pick the correct club.
Prestwick GC- hole 2
Prestwick GC- black boarded bunkering
Hole 3 (Cardinal) - is a unique par 5 and features the famous Cardinal bunker and Pow burn - it really feels like an achievement to reach this green in regulation.
Hole 5 (Himalayas) - I always look forward to this blind par 3 - they just don't make them like this anymore..
Hole 17 (Alps) - And the finish is just grand with the star of the show being this strong par 4, with the blind approach needing to clear the Himalayas dune AND the unseen Sahara bunker.
After completing the round I am always tempted to ask whether I could slip out again and play a short replay loop consisting of the first three and last 3 holes.
Wouldn't that be cool?
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