Prestwick St Nicholas
Prestwick St Nicholas is one of the oldest clubs in golf, founded in 1851 and settled on its present Firth of Clyde links since 1892. A compact, characterful par 69 of about 6,044 yards, it sits right beside its more famous neighbour yet rewards the travelling golfer with honest seaside links at a fraction of the fuss.
Photo: Stephen Caldwell via Google.
The verdict
Prestwick St Nicholas should not be confused with Prestwick Golf Club next door, the host of the first Open Championship in 1860. This is the town's other historic club, founded in 1851 and reckoned among the oldest in the world. Since 1892 it has played over a tidy stretch of true links turf on the shore of the Firth of Clyde, with views across the water to the Isle of Arran on a clear day.
What you get here is a genuine Ayrshire links experience without the championship price or the championship queue. The course is short by modern standards, a par 69 of just over 6,000 yards, but the wind off the Clyde and the firm seaside ground keep it interesting from the first tee. Old Tom Morris was an honorary member, the membership is welcoming, and for golfers building an Ayrshire week around Royal Troon and Prestwick GC it is a smart, affordable addition.
Prestwick St Nicholas at a glance
- Founded
- 1851
- Designers
- John Allan, Charlie Hunter
- Type
- Seaside links
- Par
- 69
- Yardage
- About 6,044 yds
- Green fee
- From GBP 110 (2026)
Club history, course designers, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club, top course databases and leading guides. The club was founded in 1851 and laid out 18 holes on the present site in 1892, the work of the club professional John Allan with Charlie Hunter; it plays as a par 69 of about 6,044 yards. Recent visitor green fees are indicative at around GBP 110 for 2026 and vary by season and time of day. Always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
This is short course golf in the best sense. There is little room for a tired hole on a layout under 6,100 yards, so each one has to earn its place, and the routing makes the most of the rumpled ground between the clubhouse and the sea. The opening holes ease you out along the shore, but the wind decides almost everything; a calm morning and a breezy afternoon can feel like two different courses.
The closing stretch back towards the town is where good rounds are protected or lost, with greens that demand a controlled approach rather than brute length. Firm links turf, subtle borrows and the constant Clyde breeze mean the scorecard flatters nobody, and a level par 69 here is a round to be proud of.
For the visiting player the appeal is the blend of deep history and unstuffy access. You walk the same seaside ground golfers have played since the Victorian era, with Arran on the horizon, and you can usually get on without the long lead time the marquee names demand.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Members club that welcomes visitors most days; book ahead, with some restrictions at weekends and competition days |
| Green fee | Indicative from roughly GBP 110 per round for 2026; juniors, students and seniors receive reductions; always confirm directly |
| Booking | Reserve through the club office or pro shop in advance, especially in summer |
| Handicap | A reasonable standard is expected; carry a handicap record where requested |
| Getting there | Prestwick, on the Ayrshire coast, minutes from Prestwick Airport and about 45 minutes from Glasgow |
| Best months | May to September for the driest links conditions, though it plays year round |
Access and pricing verified June 2026; Prestwick St Nicholas is a members club that takes visitor bookings, and green fees are seasonal. Always confirm current rates, visitor windows and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers base themselves along the Ayrshire coast in Prestwick, Troon or Ayr, all within a few minutes of the first tee and well supplied with hotels, links lodges and restaurants. Prestwick Airport on the doorstep makes this one of the easiest links coasts in Britain to reach.
Prestwick St Nicholas pairs naturally with a wider Ayrshire run that takes in Royal Troon, Prestwick GC, Western Gailes and Dundonald Links. Tell us when you want to play and we will build the rest of the week around it.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Prestwick St Nicholas.
Build an Ayrshire golf trip
We book the Prestwick St Nicholas tee times, pair them with Royal Troon, Prestwick GC and the best of the Ayrshire coast, and sort the lodging around your golf. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Prestwick St Nicholas questions
How old is Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club?
The club was founded in 1851, which makes it one of the oldest golf clubs in the world. It moved to its present links on the Firth of Clyde in 1892.
Who designed Prestwick St Nicholas and what is the par?
The 18 holes on the current site were laid out in 1892 by the club professional John Allan together with Charlie Hunter. It plays as a par 69 of about 6,044 yards.
Is Prestwick St Nicholas the same as Prestwick Golf Club?
No. Prestwick St Nicholas is a separate, neighbouring club. Prestwick Golf Club next door hosted the first Open Championship in 1860; Prestwick St Nicholas is the town's other historic links club.
Can visitors play Prestwick St Nicholas?
Yes. It welcomes visitors most days subject to member and competition times. Book through the club in advance, and confirm current green fees, which are indicative at around GBP 110 for 2026.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Club founding, designers, par and yardage verified June 2026; green fees are indicative for 2026 and seasonal. Last reviewed June 2026.