Birthplace of the Open
“When I was a kid we emigrated from Scotland to Canada. My Scottish relatives hired a bus to see us off… and make sure we got on the plane! ”
We took off from Prestwick Airport, once the most important airport in the UK linking with North America. During World War II, 300 military aircraft landed each day bringing supplies & troops.
Its highlight though came, (apart from me departing on a BOAC flight to Toronto) when Elvis Presley made his one & only footfall in the UK. On March 3, 1960, ‘The King’ arrived and stayed for two hours on his way home after a two-year National Service stint in Germany. They’re still talking about it today!
SHAGGY DOG STORY
From high tees, Prestwick looks like an old shaggy dog. ‘Scratch’ players know to stay well away from the rough!
Prestwick is also the spot where the Open Championship took off back in 1860. They met in the Red Lion Pub across the street.
It wasn’t much of an affair.
Old Tom Morris had been shipped in from St Andrews
OOR WULLIE
I used to play Prestwick once a year. The club secretary invited us ‘travel types’ for a free day, lunch included which was not to be missed.
During those visits, I got to know some of the local caddies and would always look out for Oor Wullie. We’d become acquainted over the rounds and although Wullie gave me what I considered the worst possible lines, I learned to trust him. Initially, I would stare at him incredulously and say ‘You’re f**ing kidding’ or words to that effect. ‘Suit yourself,’ he would say. ‘But that’s the line’. He was always right!
The 3rd is one of golf’s classics and a remnant of the original 12-hole course. A par 5, you lay up short of the Cardinal Bunker. Favour the right side of the fairway to reduce the angle and shorten the hole. Strong players can take on the green directly others should hit over the vast and deep bunker to leave around 100 yards to the green. The Pow burn is out of bounds its entire length. It took a turn and trundled down onto the green. From then on, I trusted Wullie’s every word.
Wullie told me a story of an American golfer who was delighted to be striding the hoary hills of ‘Old Prestwick’. Willie was telling him how in the 1850s Old Tom Morris moved over from St Andrews with his family to construct a 12-hole course that still forms the basis of what we see at Prestwick today.
“I love your golf course,’ the Yank enthused. ‘It’s so rustic, so authentic. But why did they build it so close to the airport?’
STAY FOR THE DAY
Like all of the very special golf clubs in Scotland, it pays to stay for the day. Lunch at Prestwick is a unique experience. I notice now, that they’ve packaged it as the ‘Prestwick Experience’ where you play the course in the morning, grab a shower and ideally change into your jacket, tie and tartan trews, a habit that’s sadly not required anymore. I quite liked those old traditions.
Then we all sit down to a first-class lunch in the Dining Room.
Preparing for lunch! Besides good, old-fashioned cooking, you get the chance to mingle with the members which is always great fun!
BIRTHPLACE OF THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Prestwick Golf Club was the very first venue for The Open Championship when in 1860, Old Tom Morris and members of Prestwick came up with the bright idea of inviting a handful of Scottish professionals (then known as caddies) for a match across a rudimentary 12-hole course. Only eight contenders showed up and went around the course three times - in the one day. That was the rather inauspicious start. Willie Park, Sr. from Musselburgh won with a score of 174 beating Old Tom by two strokes.
The Open Championship is considered the most prestigious golf competition on the planet. Prestwick Golf Club still celebrates its rich and fascinating history. You can see replicas of the original Open Championship Belt and Claret Jug on display in the clubhouse. Prestwick hosted the Open no fewer than 24 times before it became too difficult to move crowds safely around the hilly terrain.
PLAYING PRESTWICK
Like any old timer, the course can be a bit crotchety at times in that there are blind holes everywhere and funny twists over many wrinkled fairways. But that’s all part of the fun & excitement. I definitely recommend hiring Wullie or one of his compatriots as you’ll make a mess playing towards the obvious bits.
Tee times for the ‘Prestwick Experience’ are available only on Wednesday and Friday mornings between 8.00 and 9.00 am so book well in advance.
I don’t know if David, the club steward is still there (I’ll check this year) but he was always quick on the Kümmel (thick, sticky German liqueur) when I came in! Thanks, David!
Besides the Claret Jug, they’ve got a replica of Young Tom’s belt which you can visit in the clubhouse.
