Prestwick St Nicholas - Ayrshire & Arran - Scotland

The more links golf I play, the more I like courses like this. They are one of a kind and simply not made anymore. The start and finish (1-3, 16-18) on the clubhouse side of Maryborough Road are the quirkiest and most dramatic. However, the other holes (4-15) provide both variety and solid quality golf and round the cocktail off well. The challenge of two 450-yard plus par 4s like Coila (7) and Tam Jack’s (13) with fairly straightforward green sites are balanced by two short ones like Bellrock (6) and Kingcase (15), where you can easily have little chance of par after an ill-judged tee shot. Let others dismiss the par of 69, their loss!

Not an obvious choice for a first-time visitor, but I believe the best golf trips are the most varied ones. Therefore, my recommendation is to combine a longer heather-framed course (Glasgow Gailes, Kilmarnock Barassie or Dundonald) with a quirky, undulated course like this one or Western Gailes, or if available and within your budget, Old Prestwick itself.

One last thing: watch out where you park your car, if you drive here. A sliced tee shot on the last long par 3 (227 yards) can easily find its way into the car park and then you do not want your car to be first in line....

Prestwick St. Nicholas is one of those links courses that you just cannot fail to fall in love with.

Even before you reach the car park you catch a glimpse of the course and its humpy-bumpy linksland. As it transpires these are the 17th and 18th holes so you must wait a little bit longer to enjoy these, but it is worth the wait and the journey to get there is just as enjoyable.

Holes one to three and 16 to 18 lie on one side of a small road that dissect these from the majority of the course and because these holes are indeed superb, and enjoy the best of the terrain, it’s very easy to say that Prestwick St. Nicholas has a great start and a great finish, and simply leave it at that.

Prestwick St. Nicholas will probably never be seen by a number of golfers heading to Ayrshire who are just interested in playing the big names and this can therefore rightly be called a hidden gem. Holes two, three, 15, 16 and 18 are of exceptional quality and although there are a few ‘filler’ holes out on the flatter part of the course this is a true links that I whole heartedly suggest you play. Don’t be fooled by the par of 69 and a yardage of just 6,044 as it plays every bit of its length and requires plenty of creative shot-making.

Ed is the founder of Golf Empire – click the link to read his full review.

What better way to spend a sunny Bank Holiday Monday than out on the links enjoying a 4-ball with three of your golfing mates? I just love this wee course – and PSN really was a wee course for some reason today, with the regular markers played from forward tee positions on many of the holes, reducing the overall length to well under the 6,044 yards indicated on the scorecard.

The firm and fast playing conditions meant every green could be reached in regulation, apart from maybe the long par four 7th and 13th, which are tough enough to get on in two at the best of times. The greens, as ever, were in great condition so my only gripe was with the aesthetics of having fairways cut in a striped pattern – surely that’s a parkland characteristic and not one to be used on a links, where “half and half” mowing lines are the accepted norm?

The opening and closing holes are still the best on the course, though the short, doglegged par fours at the 6th and 15th are also a couple of very fine holes. Regarding the long par three finishing hole, I wonder how many cars get damaged in the car park from sliced tee shots as golf balls twice clattered into the side of the clubhouse after we finishing our round.

In these days of Health & Safety, I’m surprised there’s no protective netting in place because there’s a real danger of being hit by a stray tee shot. Bear that in mind when you next play here – it's maybe best to park in the street outside and keep your wits about you as you walk through the car park to the pro shop!

Jim McCann

Although it measures just 6044 yards, there are some tight drives through gorse and there is almost always the wind to take into contention. The first three and last three holes are on the clubhouse side of Marlborough Road and feature some very undulating fairways.

You will be acutely aware of out of bounds on many holes. A big slice on the par four 1st will see you over the fence and heading for the sea. Behind the 1st green are the ‘Salt Pan’ buildings which were constructed in approximately 1790 and were used to extract salt after boiling the sea water.

The land is somewhat different on the other side of the road. The 7th and 8th holes play around a lake that was once a quarry. The 7th is a good hole – a long par four and rated index 1. The tee is right beside the adjacent beach and is very exposed to the elements. Accuracy is needed for the second shot on the 8th as your line is over the edge of the water.

The back nine opens with a par three, a par five and then another par three. The 11th has out of bounds along the right but if you play safe down the left then you need to avoid four bunkers. Holes 13 to 15 are probably the least interesting part of the links.

However, the last three are intriguing. Sixteen and seventeen have gorse and then out of bounds along the right and the 18th, a long par three of 227 yards, has out of bounds by way of the car park on the right.

This review is an edited extract from Another Journey through the Links, which has been reproduced with David Worley’s kind permission. The author has exclusively rated for us every Scottish course featured in his book. Another Journey through the Links is available for Australian buyers via www.golfbooks.com.au and through Amazon for buyers from other countries.

I really enjoyed my round here. I knew I would after such a warm welcome from the starter and looking at the parcel of holes near the clubhouse which are great little links holes. Personally I preferred this course to Barassie and it is on a par with Troon Portland (ranking 9 and 10 in Aryshire IMHO). Too short for the pros but a great tactical test of links golf with risk and reward features e.g. which club to play from the beautiful 16th tee.

The club offers a warm welcome and a good test of golf as well as being good value for money. The traditional links design can be considered a little flat, both in elevation and inspiration for the holes located far from the clubhouse. These holes though should offer some respite in the event of high winds with greater margin for error. Holes 6-9 are of good better quality. The reservoir on the 8th is not the norm for a links course but makes a nice addition to the challenge, even though it should be out of play. The course’s crowing glories are the standout holes near the clubhouse: 1-3 and 16-18. The bright yellow gorse bushes add beauty, definition and challenge, especially the clump in the middle of the 16th which mandate a clear choice being made on the tee – left, right, short, or carry – making it a great golf hole. The 18th is an absolute nerve-jangler of a long par 3. Out-of-bounds right for the entire length of the hole plus the closeness of so many windscreens in the car park make a closing par feel like a birdie.

To date this is one of the most underated golf couse I have played in Scotland. Despite the harsh November conditions nothing could take the smile from my face as I drove the 40-mil journey home. Pound for pound this course holds its own with its many nearby alleged superiours. £25 winter fees offer a bargain that cannot be missed. The excellent condition of the greens cannot be exagerated. The welcome offerd by the highly experienced starter sets the trend for a most enjoyable alround experience.

Jim McCann

I returned to this lovely wee course to compete in my first Seniors Open, having recently turned 50 - though I can’t for the life of me wonder why so many of the tee markers were placed so far forward on the tee boxes. The Committee surely didn’t think all the competitors would be 70+ year old dodderers… or is that what I’m going to face in the future? Anyway, the course was running very fast and hard with putting surfaces as good as they always are when I’ve played here- really first class greens keeping. The opening and closing three holes are the real highlights, played amongst the most undulating terrain on the property (but I’m sorry, I still don’t like mounding behind the 10th green- it’s fine with uncut grass at the back now, but not shaved on the putting green side). Overall, a fine day’s golf was had in excellent company on a breezy day with the wind quartering in from the Firth on the closing six holes. The course is not the most difficult in terms of length but the whispy rough and patches of gorse have to be avoided at all costs to make any sort of a score. St.Nicholas is recommended as a fair, honest member club where you have to think your way around to make your mark. Jim McCann

I played this gem of a course for the first time on May 1st, 2008. The condition of the greens was perfect and they ran true. The fairways were undulating and presented strategic challenges. I thought the holes were varied and interesting, and the views of the surrounding Ayrshire coast on a sunny evening were stunning! My favourite hole was the 16th 'Tom Morris'. A twisting, undulating hole of great character. Well worth playing this course as it is true links standard and a real gem!

Our fourball played St.Nicholas on a rare February morning (dry and sunny with just a light breeze blowing) so conditions were ideal for a wee winter warmer on the Ayrshire coast. I last played here a couple of years ago and this visit reaffirmed what I’d thought before (and what my three mates thought this time) – St.Nicholas is a cracking wee links course that is much under rated.

The starter mentioned the two stone buildings beside the green at the 3rd hole were old Salt Pan Houses dating back to 1760 – I’m surprised the club make no mention of such a fascinating fact in their very succinct web site pages. An oversight that should surely be corrected.

Some winter tee positions were a little strange. Like the 2nd hole, where the tee was placed 150 yards away (almost at right angles to its normal elevated position). Or the 7th hole, when the hole was totally devalued by placing the tee 150 yards ahead of its normal place (perched on a sand dune on the right of the fairway).

The opening and closing three holes are laid out over great links land and they remain etched in the mind as an abiding memory of playing here so I’d forgotten how good so many of the holes between 4 and 15 really were.But what have the club done with the par three 10th hole? An artificial mound has been created to the left and the back of the green, affording the green some protection from sea spray that comes off the coast nearby but I think it is an abomination – and had the cheek as a visiting guest to tell the club secretary because, like football, golf is also a game about opinions!

The clubhouse locker rooms are so well appointed and the lounge so informal and relaxed – Prestwick St.Nicholas members should be really proud of their club and the way they welcome visitors so warmly. Incidentally, playing here was a real bargain – not only do they offer a cut price winter rate green fee but they also allow a 25% Openfairways card discount per golfer on top!

Jim McCann