Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club (
http://www.prestwickstnicholas.com/ )
Now here is a course worth a visit, so if in Prestwick, take the time to venture up the road a short distance to Prestwick St Nicholas, after all it has the same pedigree as Prestwick although more in line with for the Professionals. Like Prestwick, Old Tom’s assistant when he was at Prestwick, one Charlie Hunter, developed Prestwick from Old Tom’s 12 Holes to a full 18 Holes course and was responsible for the original design of Prestwick St Nicholas Course.
The current Scorecard for the course today
For those interested in GCA I attach a set of sketches or course maps covering over a 100 years of the course history and development.
The original 1892 course by Charlie Hunter & John Allan from the Evening Times dated 5.05.1892
The next four are courtesy of the Centenary book by the club showing four phases starting in 1892, circa 1900, circa 1950 and 1992.
1892
1900
1950
1992
We each have our own opinions of the course we play so to try keeping to a level playing field I have taken a description from Scotland West Coast Golf Links (
http://www.scotlandswestcoastgolflinks.com/golf_course_details.php?id=47 ) which reads as follows.
This traditional Scottish Links golf course was created on the shores of the Firth of Clyde and will test the talents of all who visit it.
Prestwick St. Nicholas Golf Club is right at the heart of a wonderful golfing area in Ayrshire. With a sense of history and tradition, and commanding beautiful views across the Firth of Clyde to the Isle of Arran in the West and Ailsa Craig in the South, golfing at St. Nicholas is an experience not to be missed. After your game enjoy the hospitality of the recently refurbished and extended clubhouse with its excellent changing, catering and bar facilities. The course is a challenging and tight traditional links of 6,044 yards in length with a Par of 69. Due to its proximity to the shoreline an almost ever-present wind ensures that the course provides a good test of golfing ability. The shorter hitter of the ball however will not suffer, as few of the holes require long carries from the tee to reach the fairways. The first three and last three holes are in the undulating 'home' area close to the clubhouse. The 1st hole is a par 4 that demands an accurate tee shot, through a narrow pass between two sand hills, with gorse and bunkers left and out of bounds to the right. The green sits in a shallow plateau below the level of the fairway. The 2nd is a par 3 played from an elevated tee providing excellent sea views. The green is in two tiers and it is advisable not to play beyond the pin as this leaves a tricky downhill pitch or putt. The 3rd is a short par 4 played towards the sea with out of bounds to the left. Longer hitters can drive the elevated green in favourable conditions. Approaching the green can be tricky and an accurate pitch is required to stay on the putting surface. After crossing Maryborough Road the 4th to the 9th holes are all par 4"s. The 4th has a blind tee shot to a narrow fairway leaving a cautious approach to a well guarded green. The 6th tee shot is blind over a ridge of sandhills with a garden wall out of bounds close to the right. Play straight over the marker post. Once over the hill there is a magnificent view of the Heads of Ayr and Ailsa Craig. Holes 7 and 8 are played around a water-filled quarry, with the approach to the 8th green over the corner of the water. After the turn there are two par three holes, the 10th and 12th, between which the 11th hole is a par 5. That hole has out of bounds to the right and a mound and 4 bunkers on the left that must be avoided. The 13th, a long par 4, sees the beginning of a five hole stretch in a northerly direction bringing players back towards the clubhouse. Course management is required at the par 4 15th hole, a laid-up tee shot leaving a short iron to a treacherous plateau green. Long hitters may have a go for the green if they dare! The 16th is the most undulating hole on the course, played from an elevated tee. Play left and aim for the corner of the clubhouse to allow the best angle of approach to the green. Gorse and out of bounds are a feature down the right hand side of both the 16th and 17th holes. The last is a demanding 227 yards par 3 with the car park representing a tight out of bounds to the right. If you have a score maybe laying-up and trying for a pitch and putt par is the best option.
The following is a short video trip about the course taken from the clubs own web site, again I hope it encourages you to play a round when next in Prestwick.
http://www.prestwickstnicholas.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=45&Itemid=53 Having tried to place the simple facts before you I hope that you feel that the club and course are worthy of a trip if not a round, as I believe you may well be pleasantly surprised.
Melvyn