We have booked an experience – the Prestwick Experience. On the way to the clubhouse we meet the Starter in a green jacket. The cradle of the British Open – 1860 – it was here that it all began. The clubhouse sparkles in the sunlight. The right feeling is there right from the start. The putting green suggests class – high class. We gaze out over the first hole, which is one of the most renowned and feared. The railway line’s wall runs along the right hand side with high rough to the left. Before we tee off the Starter takes our photo – forget about memory cards and being forced to repeat – LINKS75 has been immortalised. On our Experience we have been joined by an American who also dedicates his time to the legendary links courses of the British Isles – fantastic! Today we hit out from the red tees – “We actually put them at the distance we want.” Up on the first tee we are given our marching orders and we land half of our white gold towards the wall. Up on the fairway we manage to hit our approach into the wall and bounce back hard towards the 2nd tee. On the 2nd we look back, once again defeated, at a remarkably good first hole – hard but fair. The 3rd – a par 5 – is laid towards a sleepers combination that reminds us of an ice hockey player covering a shot. The second is stuck over a ridge towards a narrow, expectant, perpendicular fairway with meter high hillocks. Enormous links delight – fantastic. An opening worthy of a gnarled, ancient links course. The 5th – par 3 Himalaya – is 180 yards blind over a high ridge. On the tee it is indicted that the flag is located in the middle of the green. Can LINKS75 handle this information?
5th hole, Prestwick
We go over the ridge towards the waiting green and the high ground of the course. There are four brilliant long par 4s, the 7th measures 488 yards from the red tee! “Did you use an 8-iron to drive?” asks the pro after the round. “No a 9-iron,” answers LINKS75, for the 3rd shot. The 9th hole takes the sting out of us, playing towards a waiting sighting marker of Portrush class. Still an Experience though. The 10th leads us down from the high ground but still just as long. The red tee has been given a whole new meaning here. Our American friend strikes a magic shot from the edge of a fairway bunker and sinks the putt for a `Mickelson par.´ the 11th – a par 3 – is a real jewel with Troon lying on the other side. LINKS75 rolls in via the lip for a HIO – birdie. On the 12th – a par 5 – before LINKS75 makes birdie both on the first and second ball, a drive from the 4th tee lands between feet and the bag and we hear a weak “Fore!” drifting out over the green carpet. On the 13th our American friend drives onto the 16th green. We all smile and agree that links delight is awesome – really awesome. The finishing stretch requires courage, fantasy and a description in LINKS75 class. On the 15th – a par 4 – there is nothing to aim at as the top of the flag is in the far distance so a low hybrid to the left over the ridge 185 yards away towards a waiting bunker, and rolling fairway of the bathtub type. The flag is even less visible for the second shot, and the waiting green slopes away with meter high hillocks in front. We make par and beam happy smiles. The 16th – a par 4 – has a barely discernible fairway, the 13th on the left, elephant grass on the right and an ice hockey player in front of the green. ”Hit it hard – really hard” – for the queen! LINKS75 lands the white gold in the dip on the edge of the green and the resulting chip lands dead by the pin – birdie. On the 17th we let the Classic LINKS75 “Fore!” echo over the fairway as three adrenaline drenched drives are spread to all corners – one to the left, one to the right and one down the middle. We climb up the slope and look out over the Sahara. Choose clubs – hit the green – par.
Alps and Sahara, Prestwick
Three down one to go. The 18th towards the clubhouse is reachable and two balls are on the green and one just adjacent – birdie! We finish in The Dining Room at a long table and an exchange of Prestwick experiences.
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