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A Tour of Scotland Golf: Prestwick

Admittedly this is more of a photo essay than a review — after all, how does one review a course like Prestwick, from which so many great golf concepts have been drawn?

prestwick 1

The course starts with one of the more daunting shots in golf — gorse left, out of bounds and railway tracks right. Now the hole isn’t long, but it is tough as nails and surely one of the hardest opening holes anywhere. (Above and Below)

prestwick

Needless to say it gets even more interesting as it progresses. Take, for instance, the third, the Cardinal hole. A par five where a massive bunker rests in the landing area, making the green difficult to deal with in two, despite being relatively short (480 yards). Photo is below.

prestwick

Though many find Prestwick — at 6,500 yards — too short by modern standards, the length is really a result of the final four holes, all short par fours. But there is some meat on the bone. Take, for instance, the 13th hole, a par four playing 460 yards with a green that is, well, astounding.

prestwick

As mentioned, the final group of holes are short, but that doesn’t make them boring. The 17th, the famed Alps hole where one hits a tee shot to the fairway and a blind approach to a green with a massive bunker in front of it has to be one of the most intriguing holes on the course, and one that is rarely replicated. That said, there’s talk the hole will be reworked for the new fourth course at Bandon Dunes.

prestwick 17

If you are interested in Prestwick, check out its website here. Cost of a round is £110 and worth every penny.

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Robert Thompson

A bestselling author and award-winning columnist, Robert Thompson has been writing about business and sports, and particularly golf, for almost two decades. His reporting and commentary on golf has appeared in Golf Magazine, the Globe and Mail, T&L Golf and many other media outlets. Currently Robert is a columnist with Global Golf Post, golf analyst for Global News and Shaw Communications, and Senior Writer to ScoreGolf. The Going for the Green blog was launched in 2004.

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