Historic Golf Course Near Royal Troon Vandalised Before The Open
By: Kieran Clark | Edited: Fri 12 Jul 2024
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The eyes of golf fans worldwide are about to be placed on the wonderful Ayrshire coastline as The Open makes its way back to the revered Old Course at Royal Troon.
Among many things, the week will be about showcasing Ayrshire to the wider public and celebrating its place in the game as offering one of the finest collections of courses on the planet. I've written before that I believe the west is more than a rival for East Lothian's claim to be Scotland's Golf Coast.
This made it hugely disappointing to read that Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club had been vandalised just days before thousands of golfers descend on a region that gave birth to the sport's oldest major championship.
Posting on Facebook, Head Pro, Gareth Hardy posted images of the damage that has been inflicted on the course's third green.
He wrote: "So disappointing to arrive at work this morning to this. I really have no idea what goes through people’s heads to do this the week before the Open where we are expecting lots of visitors here. It is just that green, and the greenkeepers have fixed it as best they can, but the damage is bad."
Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club is located just five miles south of Royal Troon and will receive significant visitor traffic during the championship week.
It's just along the road from the historic Prestwick Golf Club - which hosted the first 11 Opens - and was co-founded by Old Tom Morris in 1851, making it the 26th oldest club in existence today.
On Golfshake, Prestwick St Nicholas is Highly Recommended and 100% of reviewing golfers have said that they would play it again, which underlines its quality.
Sadly, events like these have been common across the UK in recent times, which is something that we covered earlier in the year.
We wish everyone at the club well and if you are in the area to watch the Open and have brought the clubs with you, why not support Prestwick St Nicholas and discover exactly why so many everyday golfers rave about it?
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What It's Like to Play Royal Troon Golf Club
East Lothian vs Ayrshire - What Really is Scotland's Golf Coast
About the author
Kieran Clark is the Digital Editor of Golfshake. He oversees editorial content, community engagement, forums, and social media channels. A lifelong golfer from the Isle of Bute in Scotland who has now lived in St Andrews for a decade, he began playing at the age of five and maintains a passion for exploring courses, with a particular affection for historic layouts. Kieran regularly contributes in-depth opinion pieces and features, drawing on his enthusiasm for the game and its culture.
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