The Belleisle Golf Course in Ayr
Belleisle Golf Club offers a public golf course in Ayr that is ranked among the best in Scotland. This municipal course is immaculately maintained and is host to several professional tournaments – one of the few true municipal courses to do so. Belleisle is a tough classic and parkland course where you will get your value for money and more. Set in rolling woodlands it is without doubt the best inland public course in Scotland. Golfers who are snobbish about playing in public golf courses would do well to remember that St. Andrews and Carnoustie are also public courses!
This championship golf course was designed by the legendary James Braid in 1927. It has hosted the Open qualifying rounds when the European Open championship was played at Turnberry in 1978. A number of Scottish and International tournaments are played at Belleisle. Many tour players enjoy practicing here before a major game – this just confirms how good a course it is!
The golf course is set in the serene woodland of Belleisle Park. Its exceptionally long fairways are lined with hundreds of mature beech trees and the course has the meandering Curtecan Burn snaking through its parkland. Its wide open fairways, punishing rough, embankments of magnificent trees and well bunkered greens make Belleisle a classic parkland course. Water comes into play in the course thanks to the burn.
Belleisle has a modest length of 6450 yards but only two of the nine par fours, the eighth and ninth, are less than four hundred yards long. It opens in a unique manner with two back to back par fives which are relatively short. This really sets the tone of the game to follow.
The seventh is a tricky par three that is played across water. The course offers wonderful views of the Isle of Arran from the sixth and seven holes. The 17th hole is again a tricky par three. The course ends as it begins – with a great par five. The last hole is a right dogleg that offers the final challenge worthy of the rest of the course. Belleisle is true test for serious golfers.
Even though the Belleisle Golf Course is owned and maintained by the South Ayrshire Council, there is a private club known as the Ayr Belleisle Golf Club whose members play their competitions at the public Belleisle Golf Course. The clubrooms are located within the Belleisle House Hotel. You will find comfortable accommodation here.
Belleisle Golf Course is ideal for a weekend or short break and many agencies can work out a package for you. This could include playing at some of the other courses nearby as well such as the famous Royal Troon Golf Course and Old Prestwick Golf Course.