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St. Andrews,
Fife
Old Course 18 holes - 6566 yards - SSS72
New Course 18 holes - 6604 yards - SSS72
Jubilee Course 18 holes - 6805 yards- SSS73
Eden Course 18 holes - 6401 yards - SSS71
The Old Course is a golfing myth retaining
the basic original design of playing out and
then back in, with many of the green sharing
holes played in different halves. However
the Old Course used to be played in both clockwise
and anti-clockwise directions, with the start
and finish beside the clubhouse of the Royal
& Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. The
New, Jubilee and Eden courses are very fine
tests, offering top league alternatives if
the Old is unavailable. The New would almost
certainly be classed a championship course
if it did not lie in the shadow of her elder
sister, and the Jubilee and Eden have been
revamped to increase their stature. |
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Carnoustie,
Angus
18 hole Championship - 6939 yards - SSS74
Last held the Open in 1975 when Tom Watson
won after an 18 hole play-off. It was described
by Walter Hagen as the best course in Great
Britain and one of the finest in the world.
This must be the 'jewel in the crown' for
this area. Even after the first 15 holes,
the visitor is still unprepared for the real
test of Carnoustie - the toughest finish in
championship golf. If you can par the final
holes you deserve the feeling of total satisfaction.
The British Open is to be held here in 1999.
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Auchterarder,
Perthshire
Kings Course - 6125 yards - SSS71
Queens Course - 5660 yards - SSS67
Monarchs Course - 6134 yards - SSS71
A truly magnificent setting for golf. There
are two 18 hole courses, the Kings and the
Queens with an adjoining 'Wee' course. Another
18 hole championship course, the Monarchs
was designed by Jack Nicklaus. However the
courses are only for hotel patrons. The Kings
course a par of 70 and 6471 yards is the showpiece
of the area. The course was designed by James
Braid and almost every hole is in a supreme
setting with panoramic views of the surrounding
hills. To play at one of the finest sporting
complexes in the world doesn't come cheap,
but it is worth a once-in-a-lifetime visit.
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Maidens,
Ayrshire
Ailsa - 18 holes - 6408 yards - SSS71
Arran - 18 holes - 6276 yards - SSS69
Ailsa is the magnificent Open Championship
Course with panoramic views over Turnberry
Bay to the Isle of Arran and Ailsa Craig.
Turnberry came on the Open scene in 1977 and
on its debut provided the famous "Duel
in the Sun" between Jack Nicklaus and
Tom Watson, with the latter winning by one
shot but having to score the lowest 72 hole
aggregate of 268, which stands to this day.
Both the courses at Turnberry have given pleasure
to countless golfers from every part of the
world and will certainly continue to do so.
Courses only available to Hotel Guests. |
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Troon, Ayrshire
18 holes - 6641 yards - SSS73
A relatively late arrival to the Open circuit
in 1923 but the stature of the course has
now made it a regular venue. It has hosted
many other tournaments and is always in great
demand. The 8th hole at Royal Troon, the shortest
hole in Open golf, is known as The Postage
Stamp because of its tiny green. Severely
trapped on both sides many players Ping-Pong
to and fro across the green - one Open contender
in 1950 ran up a 15 doing just that. However
the great Gene Sarazen scored a historic hole
in one, on the 50th anniversary of his first
appearance in the Championship. |
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Prestwick,
Ayrshire
18 holes - 6544 yards - SSS72
This historic golf course was the venue of
the first Open Championship played in 1860
and since then has played host on 23 other
occasions, the last being in 1925. Many of
the holes remain unchanged demanding some
blind shots to small greens and to the modern
golfer represent a tricky challenge. Thoroughly
recommended and a must if you are in Ayrshire.
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Dornoch,
Sutherland
18 holes - 6577 yards - SSS72
This is the 3rd Oldest golfing town in the
world after St. Andrews and Leith, with records
dating back to 1616. When played by Tom Watson
and Ben Crenshaw they both said it was one
of the finest courses they had ever played.
Designed by Tom Morris it has become a shrine,
and has 200 overseas members from the USA
alone. Only because of its remoteness has
Dornoch not been considered a venue for the
Open Championship. |
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