Scotland’s golf courses are some of the best in the world. Perhaps this is because the game of golf is credited as starting in Scotland and Scottish pride demands excellent courses for “their” game. A stone’s throw from Ayr lays Preswick, Scotland. This small town is home to an international airport and three excellent golf courses including the world-renowned Preswick Golf Club, home of the British Open. There are several golf courses within the area and these courses make Prestwick and Ayr an alluring destination to visitors. The Ayr/Prestwick area is a golfer’s paradise!

Founded in 1851, Prestwick Golf Club hosted the first Open in 1860. At the course’s inception, Tom Morris was brought in to be the Keeper of the Green, Ball and Club Maker. His son, young Tommy, grew up on the links and honed his skill at the game of golf. In later years, young Tommy went on to win an as yet unmatched 4 Opens. This course will challenge and delight you. The Pow River creates a natural obstacle as it flows through the course. The famous third hole (par 5) abruptly ends 300 yards from the tee at a deep bunker, “the Cardinal”. This hole has dashed many a golfer’s goal of winning their round.

Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club, founded in the latter part of 1951, boasts 18-holes that requires the golfer to think out their strategy. A beautiful course, it has some unique landmarks incorporated into it. The Salt Pan buildings date from 1790 and were used for the extraction of salt from the sea. The water-filled quarry just 50 meters from the sea provides the water used to irrigate the course. The quarry is filled with fresh water in spite of its proximity to the sea and provides sanctuary to a wide array of wild water birds.

Prestwick St Cuthbert Golf Club welcomes visitors with warmth that is not apparent at many courses. Visitors are greeted and shown around the facility by the Starter. He makes sure that they have what they need before they start their round. Be warned, there is no pro shop at Prestwick St Cuthbert Golf Club so come prepared. There are also a very limited number of carts for rent. The yellow course that the visitor’s play golf on is a par 68 and demands a great deal of attention if one wants to conquer the course.

Just down the road and sharing a border with the Prestwick Golf Club, Royal Troon offers three courses to the avid golfer. If you are looking for a challenge, the Old Course’s 18 holes is the right course for you. The wind and deep rough make accuracy a necessity. With five Par 3’s, the Portland Course is a bit more sheltered but its 18 holes are still quite challenging. The 9-hole Craigend Course has Par 3 holes and is used mostly by junior players because it is a kinder and gentler course. Royal Troon has very limited tee times for visitors so plan in advance and contact them to make sure that your vacation wishes can be accommodated. You will also want a list of the do’s and don’ts when visiting Royal Troon.

This is a small sampling of the courses that you can look forward to when you spend your golfing vacation in the area. Remember to make sure to contact each course well in advance to make sure that you can be accommodated and get all the pertinent visitor information. Taking a golf vacation in this area is definitely not a spur of the moment type of vacation. Your days can be filled enjoying the many gorgeous and well laid out courses that are minutes apart from each other. It will make you wish that you could enjoy the links every day all day.

Ayr Racecourse bills itself as being the premier racecourse in Scotland. It is a very impressive racecourse with great horse races, jumping events, and outstanding facilities. Affordable entertainment at affordable pricing in a terrific facility makes a visit to Ayr Racecourse a must in every visitor’s itinerary.

In 2009, 27 events are on the schedule for Ayr Racecourse. The racecourse offers a broad selection of tickets, including memberships, which will suit everyone’s pocketbook. From the £5 Value Day to the £260 Club Season Ticket, and everything in between, offers good value for the money. Many of the prices have been held at the 2008 level. There is always a good reason to attend the races.

Different levels of memberships and tickets at the Ayr Racecourse allow you to enjoy different privileges. When making your decision to buy a ticket or a membership, you’ll want to review the racecourse’s facility to make sure that you are getting the amenities that will give you the enjoyment the you want. There are several lounges and bars that allow you to so everything from have a casual bite to eat with friends at The Bistro Cafe and Coffee Shop, absorb the atmosphere in the Summer Club Bar, be entertained in the recently opened state-of-the-art Grandstand Sports Bar or just absorb the excitement of race day in the many other facilities at the racecourse. Among the several eateries available at Ayr Racecourse, a variety of dishes from casual to champagne and seafood tempt your palate. What could be more tempting than a night out at the races?

The Ayr Racecourse has the 4-star Western House Hotel right next door. How convenient for the traveler! A small but elegant hotel, it has 49 well appointed rooms. The on-site Jockey Club Lounge is an intimate restaurant that seats 30 for lunch and supper. Because of the hotel’s proximity to the Prestwick International Airport, it gives race fans from all over an ideal place to take a bit of a vacation. When you want to do something different, there is lots to explore or you could play golf at the Royal Troon golf course.

Whether it is a jumping or racing event, you will find yourself in a different world. Being immersed in the atmosphere and excitement of the racecourse, as well as enjoying the amenities available and the excellent pricing, are all great reasons to spend some time at the Ayr Racecourse. Why not head off to the races at Ayr and have a day to remember?