Prestwick Golf Club

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18th hole at Prestwick

Prestwick Golf Club is located in the town of Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland. It is approximately 30 miles southwest of Scotland's largest city, Glasgow. Prestwick is a classic links golf course, being built on the rolling sandy land that "links" the beach and the land further inland. The course is located near the Prestwick airport and some holes run along railroad tracks on the eastern side of the course.

The club was founded in 1851, and Old Tom Morris was the club's "Keeper of the Green, Ball and Club Maker" for a number of years. Prestwick is famous as the initial sponsor of The Open Golf Championship, the oldest of golf's four major championships. The first Open was held in 1860 and the winner was presented with a red Morocco belt with silver clasps purchased by the members at a cost of £25. The club staged all the Opens up to 1870 and remained in the rotation until 1925, hosting the championship 24 times in all. Prestwick has also staged the British Amateur Championship on a number of occasions.

At the time of the early open championships the course had 12 holes, but in the later decades of the 19th century 18 became established as the standard number of holes on a course, and Prestwick was eventually extended to this. Unlike some of Scotland's other leading courses, Prestwick is a private members' club, but visitors may book to play the course on most days of the week.