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Golf Breaks in South West Scotland

HOME to Argyll, the Isles, Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway, this part of Scotland is particularly gifted by way of providing good golf courses at a good price.

The South West, for many, is better equipped to deliver holiday golfers a lifetime of memories than some of Scotland’s other regions. Why? Well, for a start, this part of the ‘Home of Golf’ is steeped in the early traditions of the game.

Prestwick, in fact, was the venue for the very first Open Championship back in 1860. The tournament, naturally, has changed in format since then and the course itself is no longer on the R&A’s rota, but the attachment to the tournament is still held in high regard by the members. Indeed, Prestwick’s clubhouse is filled with fascinating accounts of early Open history – you could spend an entire afternoon just taking it all in, such is the intrigue.

Other Open venues in the South West are Royal Troon, where American Todd Hamilton won in 2004, and Turnberry, a favourite of many and the venue for the 2009 Open thanks to the upgraded local road network.

But, as with any top golf destination, the South West is not all about big names. Kilmarnock Barassie, an Open qualifier, has produced its fair of share of good golfers through the years, including a number of Walker Cup heroes, and it’s easy to see why. West Kilbride is another championship links held in great esteem. Boasting wonderful views of the Isle of Arran, it is as honest a links you are likely to find. Likewise, Western Gailes, home to its fair share of premier professional and amateur tournaments through the years, is every inch the traditional, classic links and is not to be missed.

Southerness, roughly a 30-minute drive south of Dumfries, is a sumptuous Scottish links and one that will leave you itching for more.

So, too, will Portpatrick, the most westerly course in the region, found just a little further on from Stranraer. There are two layouts at Portpatrick, the Dunskey and the Dinvin, with the former an honest links set on the cliffs above the village. Both are well worth the effort.

The isle of Arran is a tidy wee place when it comes to providing great value golf and you can’t get much better than the likes of Shiskine and Lamlash.

The former is a picturesque 12-hole layout and is, quite simply, an undiscovered gem, designed by Willie Fernie. Lamlash is Arran’s oldest course and is set against the magnificent backdrop of the island’s landscape. For many, it is the most beautiful course on the island – but we’ll let you decide for yourself. One of the most popular nine-holers in the South West is Castle Douglas, only a short drive from Dumfries and Galloway and worth every penny. Equally as rewarding is a round at Wigtown and Bladnoch, up in the heart of Ayrshire. Characterised by rows of mature trees – and the occasional stream – you’ll need your best shot-making skills on hand if you are to shoot a good score.

Last, but most certainly not least, is Loudoun Gowf, a flat parkland just a short drive from Kilmarnock that offers one of the best value for money packages in the South West.

Our advice is simple – book up as quickly as possible and experience some of the best golf Scotland has to offer without having to dig too deep into your pockets.
Local golfing trivia.

The very first Open was held at Prestwick Golf Club in 1860 and was won by Willie Park of Musselburgh.

Turnberry played host to what many believe the greatest golf ever seen in the 1977 Open, the ‘Duel in the Sun’, between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson.

Construction is currently underway on the new Colin Montgomerie-designed course at Rowallan Castle in Ayrshire. It should open in late 2007.