Prestwick Golf Club

1851
PRESTWICK
GO L F
B i r t h p l a c e
CLU B
o f
T h e
O p e n
preStWicK Golf clUB
history without equal
the history of prestwick Golf club is etched into the stone cairn
that marks the first tee of the original 12-hole course. from
here the first open championship was contested in 1860 by the
giants of the game.
of the 57 members who founded the club in 1851, few would
have expected to find six of the original greens still in play
today, still testing the best. they would also be able to hang
their tweed jackets in oak lockers built in 1882 and later retire
to the grand surroundings of the marvellously atmospheric
Smoke room.
prestwick is a place of living history where old tom Morris and
his son became legends. it is a place of folklore and tradition
where the game of golf was shaped and the open championship
was born.
reproduced by kind permission of the royal and ancient Golf club of St andrews.
THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
the world was first introduced to the open championship at
prestwick on 17th october 1860. it was played according to
prestwick rules with the club hosting the first 12 opens and
its members sourcing the prize of the famed red Moroccan
leather belt.
prestwick was a place of firsts. it was here the first open prize
money was presented, the first hole-in-one realised and the
first amateur victory recorded. this was where old tom Morris,
Willie park Snr and harry Vardon battled for supremacy and
the iconic claret Jug.
the 24 opens that were contested here mean prestwick is
second only to St andrews in staging the event. it also means
the open championship is embedded within the club’s very
core - one simply couldn’t exist without the other.
24 open chaMpionShipS
PIONEERING LINKS GOLF
although the sea air may be fresh, the aura that surrounds
prestwick is doused in pure legend. from the cauldron
atmosphere of the first tee to the heroic closing hole, prestwick
delivers golf on a grand and epic scale.
lovers of the game in its purest form laud its quirky bumps
and hollows indulging in the possibilities offered by its rippling
fairways and undulating greens. it has been this way for
generations.
this is where the die was cast for others to follow. lively links
turf, daunting bunkers and an array of tee shots seamlessly
blend fun with danger. and with names like cardinal,
himalayas, elysian fields and Sea headrig, prestwick is
one of the few collections of golf holes that can truly be
called original.
oUr coUrSe
The green of the 17th hole – The Alps, the oldest existing hole in Championship golf.
INSIDE THE CLUBHOUSE
as you enter prestwick’s clubhouse the first thing you notice
is a swell of echoing laughter. the next is the rich tapestry
of golfing memorabilia that adorns the aged wood-panelled
walls. this is a place of history and fun, where artefacts from
golf’s past merge with infectious banter.
the charismatic Smoke room and charming Dining room
provide the stately settings for this heady mix. Upstairs the
cardinal lounge and restaurant offer a perfect counterbalance
of informality. all are served by attentive waiting staff working
in conjunction with skilled kitchens, and are made available to
visitors who are granted membership for the day.
Delightful in its tradition and rich in character, the clubhouse
is as much a part of the prestwick experience as is tackling the
famous course where the open championship was first played.
OUR PROFESSIONALS
Prestwick’s rich history is entwined around an illustrious
list of club professionals. Among them Open champions,
distinguished course designers and honorary members all of
whom left their indelible mark on the club.
The first not only shaped Prestwick but also moulded the
game of golf itself. Old Tom Morris arrived at Prestwick in 1851
to lay out 12 championship holes. He went on to secure four
Open Championships at the club.
Seven professionals followed. Charlie Hunter spent 54 years
at Prestwick while Robert McInnes held the position for 35
years and Frank Rennie 42. Today, David Fleming continues the
tradition of nurturing an unrivalled knowledge of the game,
assisting members and visitors alike and overseeing an awardwinning proshop.
Prestwick Golf Club
Telephone +44 (0)1292 477404 or visit www.prestwickgc.co.uk