On the 17th October, 1860 on the Ayrshire Coast of Scotland, an event was held at a golf club named Prestwick in order to determine who was the ‘champion golfer’ following the death of St Andrews’ clubmaker Allan Robertson. That event, which saw Willie Park Snr claim the Belt, went on to be known as The Open Championship.

The birthplace of golf’s oldest annual event, Prestwick is not just a club, but an experience within itself. Held in high regard since its inception in 1851, this legendary club was created as a result of 57 enthusiastic members coming together to purchase two cottages opposite the Red Lion Inn, where they would regularly meet. One of those dwellings was then used to accommodate Old Tom Morris, who acted as the club’s Keeper of the Green, ball and clubmaker after laying out the original 12-hole links.

Fast-forward to present day, and Prestwick remains as welcoming, charismatic, and rich in character as it always has been. Both members and visitors can enjoy the full Prestwick Experience, where you’ll play the championship course before lunching in the formal dining room, getting a tangible glimpse into the history of the game. The links itself is a memorable yet challenging journey packed with blind shots, expansive sand traps and drivable par 4s. The fact that six original greens and three original holes remain largely unchanged says all you need to know about Prestwick - it’s the definitive golf experience.