Links Golf Courses

Links Golf Courses

Troon Darley
One of the three good municipal courses in this golf mecca. The Darley is flat but lined with gorse bushes and can be as testing as any in the wind.

Troon Lochgreen
Lochgreen is the best of the trio of municipal courses in the golf mecca of Troon. It is the longest of the three, a par of 74 running parallel at points to Royal Troon and used for several years as an Open qualifier course. Jack Nicklaus shot an 82 here in an Open Qualifier followed by a more appropriate 68 making the cut by one shot.

Irvine Bogside
Very testing links/heathland course used as a final qualifying course when the Open Championship is held at Royal Troon or Turnberry. Established in 1887 and designed by James Braid. Along with Royal Troon will co-host the 2003 British Amateur Championships.

Powfoot
This is a prominent links course in the southwest, distinguished as a championship venue and playing through a veritable sea of gorse. There are actually only 14 holes that are true links while the back four holes are more parkland in nature.

Prestwich, St Nicholas
An excellent links course with magnificent views over the sea. Gorse is a main contender. The 13th is a very good Par 4 with wind off the sea as is the 8th with the Quarry water hazard protecting a sunken green. Fabulous!

Shiskine, Isle of Arran
This is a rather special 12 hole course overlooking the Mull of Kintyre with many testing short holes. Although only 12 holes, there is bags of character here to make for a good day out. The Course Amateur record is 38.

Southerness
Challenging championship links on the Solway firth designed by MacKenzie Ross. Heather and bracken abound. The SSS of 4 strokes above par says it all but, if the wind isn’t tearing your top top off and you can keep to the fairway, it can be a real treat.

West Kilbride
This is an exceptional seaside links overlooking the First of Clyde. The wind fairly whistles down the water and every hole is open too it. Some play very close to the beach and there are dykes coming into play. A great location for a course.

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