Prestwick Golf Club is located in the town of Prestwick on the Ayrshire coast of Scotland. It is approximately 30 miles southwest of Scotland's largest city, Glasgow.

The club was founded in 1851, and Old Tom Morris was the clubs "Keeper of the Green, Ball and Club Maker" for a number of years. Prestwick is famous as the initial sponsor of The Open Golf Championship, the oldest of golf's four major championships. The first Open was held in 1860 and the winner was presented with a red morocco belt with silver clasps purchased by the members at a cost of £25. The club staged all the Opens up to 1870 and remained in the rotation until 1925, hosting the championship twenty-four times in all. Prestwick has also staged the British Amateur Championship on a number of occasions.

At the time of the early open championships the course had twelve holes, but in the later decades of the 19th century eighteen became established as the standard number of holes on a course, and Prestwick was eventually extended to this. Unlike some of Scotland's other leading courses, Prestwick is a private members' club, but visitors may book to play the course on most days of the week.

Open Champions at Prestwick

• 1860 Willie Park, Sr.
• 1861 Tom Morris, Sr.
• 1862 Tom Morris, Sr.
• 1863 Willie Park, Sr.
• 1864 Tom Morris, Sr.
• 1865 Andrew Strath
• 1866 Willie Park, Sr
• 1867 Tom Morris, Sr.
• 1868 Tom Morris, Jr.
• 1869 Tom Morris, Jr.
• 1870 Tom Morris, Jr.
• 1872 Tom Morris, Jr.
• 1875 Willie Park, Sr
• 1878 Jamie Anderson
• 1881 Bob Ferguson
• 1884 Jack Simpson
• 1887 Willie Park, Jr.
• 1890 John Ball
• 1893 Willie Auchterlonie
• 1898 Harry Vardon
• 1903 Harry Vardon
• 1908 James Braid
• 1914 Harry Vardon
• 1925 Jim Barnes

External link

Official site