Ayrshire is world famous for its golf courses and it boasts three Open Championship courses The Ailsa at Turnberry, Prestwick and Royal Troon and it was recently announced that The Open Championship will indeed return to Ayrshire at Turnberry in 2009.
In addition there are a host of quality links courses such as Kilmarnock Barassie, Glasgow Gailes, Western Gailes, The Dundonald, Irvine Bogside, West Kilbride, the Turnberry Kintyre and Prestwick St Nicholas.
In Ayr and Troon you'll find three of the best muncipal courses in the country at Lochgreen and Darley and Belleisle in addition there are other additional public golf courses run by the local councils the length of the county.
Other inland courses also provide a challenge including the excellent Brunston Castle near Turnberry or Loudoun Gowf Club just outside Kilmarnock. Prestwick also has a third course, the inland layour at St Cuthbert's.
For the James Braid trail aficionados you can enjoy three layouts in Ayrshire - Irvine Bogside, Routenburn and West Kilbride.
Discount Golf Cards
Discount golf cards are also available in both Ayrshire and The Isle of Arran.
For quality and value try the Open Qualifier Card (using the Open Qualifying courses at Barassie, Bogside and Glasgow Gailes) or South Ayrshire Councils Golf Pass for starters and play at Belleisle, Lochgreen and Darley in Troon and the wee gem at Girvan.
On Arran you can avail yourself of the seven course Arran Golf Pass and save up to 20%.
Golf Events in and Around Ayrshire 2007
Teeing off on the 30th April this 72 hole stableford event is open to all club golfers with a handicap. The Ayrshire Golf Classic 2007 features golf over Western Gailes, Kilmarnock Barassie, Irvine Bogside and prestwick St. Nicholas. Long standing events in run by South Ayrshire Council include the Ayr Golf Week in June, Troon Golf Week in late August/early September and The Girvan Golf Classic in late September. For full information click on the link to South Ayrshire Golf Events.
On the PGA European Tour there are no events being played this year in Ayrshire although the Barclays Scottish Open is once again being held less than an hour up the road at Loch Lomond between the 11th and 15th of July.
Open Championship Returns to Turnberry 2009
