Within an hour of Girvan are two Open rota venues past and present, four courses in world or UK top-100 lists, and a modern Scottish Open host. This page compares them and explains the packages that bundle them.
| Course | Pedigree | 2026 summer fee | Access rules | From Girvan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turnberry Ailsa | 4 Opens; Golf World No.2 Scotland 2026; Golf Digest World 100 | £1,000 non-res · £650 late pm · £475 guests | Any day; 16+; no hcp | 6 mi |
| Turnberry King Robert the Bruce | Golf Digest World 100 | c. £250; £500 Scottish fourball | Any day; no hcp; buggies | 6 mi |
| Royal Troon Old | 10 Opens (2024) | £365 (2025 tariff) | Mon/Tue/Thu; hcp 20 men / 30 women; 12+ | 31 mi |
| Prestwick | First Open 1860; 24 Opens; world top 100 | £340 Mon–Thu · £380 Fri/Sun | Set windows; no Sat; hcp preferred | 27 mi |
| Western Gailes | UK top 50; Open final qualifying | £310 incl. lunch · £335 Sat | Set windows; hcp 24/28 | 40 mi |
| Dundonald Links | Scottish Open, Women's Scottish Open | £245 Mon–Thu · £260 Fri–Sun | Any day; online | 40 mi |
| Gailes Links · Barassie | Open final qualifying | c. £75–100 | Visitor days | 33–40 mi |
Packages that combine them
- Open Links of Ayrshire (via Trump Turnberry): the Ailsa, the Bruce, Prestwick and Royal Troon with four nights at the hotel, dinners and breakfasts.
- Ultimate Links (via Dundonald): Dundonald, Prestwick and Western Gailes with a stay at Dundonald.
- Gailes Golf Experience: Western Gailes, Gailes Links and Dundonald at a package rate (gailesgolfexperience.com).
- Prestwick 36 holes £440; Royal Troon day ticket (Old + Portland) £420 (2025); Western Gailes two rounds £425.
Worth travelling further
- Southerness, Solway coast (about 1 hr 45) — Mackenzie Ross's 1947 links, ranked 36th in Scotland and c. £95; a day trip or overnight via Dumfries.
- Machrihanish and Machrihanish Dunes, Kintyre — Old Tom Morris's legendary first hole across the beach and David McLay Kidd's 2009 dunes course; a long drive round Loch Fyne or the seasonal Ardrossan–Campbeltown ferry. A two-night trip.
- Shiskine, Arran — a 12-hole links at Blackwaterfoot, c. £42, one of the most-loved oddities in Scottish golf; ferry from Troon, a long day.
- Lochlea, near Tarbolton (45 min) — a modern inland course with a visitor distillery next door, for a change of scene.
Honest advice
Book Royal Troon and Turnberry summer times six to nine months ahead; Prestwick three to four. Check handicap limits before you book Troon or Western Gailes. Shoulder months (April, October) are 30–70 per cent cheaper everywhere and the courses are identical. And stay in Girvan: the savings on four nights' accommodation will cover a Bruce round.
Prices and visitor policies checked August 2026 against the club's own website and cross-checked with independent golf guides. Clubs revise rates every season and restrict visitor times around competitions, so confirm directly before you book.
