Barra
Bale
C
olin Montgomerie, the
2010 European Ryder Cup
captain, has close links to
the South West and always speaks
fondly of its golf courses, of which
there are over 100. He recalls his
formative years learning the game
on the Ayrshire coast, mainly at
Royal Troon Golf Club where his
father served as the golf club's
secretary for many years. Royal
Troon, of course, deserves massive
adoration as one of the premier
venues on the R&A's rota of Open
Championship courses, many
believing its back nine to the be the
finest stretch of holes in British golf.
But it is the section of coastline
from Skelmorlie all the way south
to Portpatrick that make you realise
why this corner of Scotland is so
adored.
Golf courses such as Belleisle are
regarded as amongst the finest
municipal venues in the UK, with
hotspots like the three links layouts
Fullarton, Lochgreen and Darley.
The trio are all based in Troon and
run by the local authority.
Lochgreen, incidentally, is where
legend Jack Nicklaus qualified for
the Open in 1962. Proof that
Scottish golf is a mixture of
wondrous variety comes with the
fact that these courses, which
provide exceptional value for
money and a rich quality of golf,
are all within walking distance of
the aforementioned Open course
and just a short drive from the
famous Turnberry resort.
Turnberry generates a huge
amount of interest, having now
returned to the Open rota after
a 15-year break. Its aura is hard
to resist, but there are many other
reputable courses that attract
golfers from near and afar. Girvan,
a short-ish but satisfying public
links, is one such attraction, while
Stranraer, the last course designed
by five-time Open champion James
Braid, is a parkland venue that
benefits from the region's often
mild climate. Maybole is a cracking
nine-holer with views of the Carrick
Hills and worth a trip.
There are top-class courses all
along this coastal stretch that are
worth setting time aside for, most
notably the delightful Western
Gailes. It has hosted the Curtis Cup,
the PGA Championship and the
Scottish Amateur Championship
amongst many other top tier
tournaments and the layout
provides a truly classic links test.
56
Three-time Major winner Padraig
Harrington travels from various
tournaments around the world on
either the PGA Tour or European
Tour all the way to Largs, a pretty
and quaint Scottish coastal town,
on a regular basis.
He makes the trip because Largs is
home to the Bob Torrance School of
Golf, a newly renovated teaching
centre that has seen its fair share of
big-name visitors, including the
aforementioned Irishman, Sean
Connery, Ian Woosnam and 1999
Open champion Paul Lawrie.
Torrance, father of Ryder Cup-
winning captain Sam, is proud of his
Academy and cut the ribbon during
its opening ceremony.
Head to Largs and
mix with the best
There are top
class golf
courses all
along this
coastal route
Maybole
Girvan

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