ON the eastern shore of the Firth of Clyde, a little to the north of Ayr, lie the famous links of Prestwick, famous as the headquarters of golf on the west coast of Scotland and as the scene of many memorable matches. Here, unfortunately, as elsewhere, local records are comparatively bare of references to the game of golf, and it is impossible to say, with any accuracy, at what date the game was first played. The present club was instituted as late as 1851, but the game itself, it is certain, has been played in the neighbourhood for at least a hundred years. A legend exists of a match being played, several centuries ago, on the links at Ayr, "for his nose, between a monk of Crossraguel and a lord of Culzean"; but whether it was the monk's nose or the lord's, that was at stake, or both, and who won, and whether or not the penalty was exacted, are matters that the present writer has not been able to determine.

The chief point is, that Prestwick is an ancient golfing ground, and though the Prestwick Golf Club cannot point, like the Royal and Ancient, or the Honourable Company, to a history extending over many decades, it has, in its comparatively short life, done a great deal to foster and encourage golf in Scotland. Drawing its life-blood from among the active and energetic citizens of Glasgow, and with many enthusiastic sportsmen among the neighbouring landed proprietors, the club soon attracted to its western green all the best golfing talent of the country. The Morrises, Davie Strath, the Dunns, old Willie Park, and many other famous players of that period, in turn visited it and played many important matches over the course. In 1860 the club covered itself with undying glory by originating the Open Golf Championship, when they presented for competition the "Champion Belt," which was won outright by young Tom Morris in 1870, who in that year won it for the third time in succession.

The Prestwick course consisted originally of but twelve holes, and went no further than the wall to the north of the "Cardinal" bunker, but the rising popularity of the club and its rapidly increasing membership soon made a further extension necessary. Eight new holes were made beyond the dyke, and though some of these may be accused of flatness and monotony, they all supply excellent golf, and lend the course, what it previously lacked, the element of variety. The old holes were all of the same character, packed too close together amongst the sand-hills, and too many of them were blind. The course as it now stands, is one of the finest, if not the very finest, in the world of golf. Its total length is 5,732 yards, and its holes of ever-varying length, its formidable hazards of world-wide renown, and its sporting but true putting greens, render Prest-wick unsurpassable as an all-round test of golf. For it is not here, as at so many other courses of first-class reputation, that the holes are laid out in one or two stereotyped lengths, with hazards similarly placed for each stroke. Each hole is different, both in its length and in the disposition and nature of its hazards, and he must be a resourceful golfer and have many good strokes in his armoury, who goes round Prestwick without coming to serious grief. Though the roll of famous Prestwick golfers is comparatively small, it must be remembered that the club and course arc private, and that, in consequence, comparatively few players have enjoyed the unrivalled opportunities for arriving at excellence which the green affords. A green, however, that was the home of old Tom Morris for fourteen years, and on which, during that period, young Tommy, perhaps the most brilliant player who ever lived, learned to play the game, has no reason to be ashamed of its record. With Prestwick also the name of Fairlie is indelibly associated. Colonel J. O. Fairlie, of Coodham, the father of the present well-known amateurs, was one of the best players of his day. He had the distinction of holding the medals of the Prestwick, Royal and Ancient, and North Berwick Clubs in the same season - a feat for which he-was deservedly designated by the Earl of Dalhousie "the Champion Amateur of Scotland." His golfing talent is inherited by his sons, of whom Mr. F. A. Fairlie is in the very first flight of amateur golfers. In Messrs. E. D. Prothero, W. S. Wilson, and A. R. Paterson, the club have three first-class players, who can give a good account of themselves in any company. Since the enlargement of the course, the open championship has been played eight times at Prestwick, and the fact that only on one occasion has the cup been won by a score under an average of 80 for the rounds played, is a striking testimony to the formidable nature of the course. Prestwick has one more claim to distinction, in that it was here, in the open championship competition of 1890, that Mr. John Ball, jun., broke through the long succession of professional victories, and carried off the trophy with the fine score of 164 for the two rounds.

But let us to the course and taste for ourselves its manifold joys and sorrows.

At the very first hole the golfer will find need for the greatest judgment and caution. On the immediate right of the tee, and running all the way to the hole is the railway, over the wall of which is "out of bounds." To the left are whins. A straight first drive is therefore essential, and if it is forthcoming, and of sufficient length, the player will find his ball within an iron shot of the green. To get there, however, unless one has hugged the railway pretty close, when the hole is open, a broken tract of hummocky country, covered with bunkers, bents, and loose sand, has to be crossed; and as the putting green is on a tableland of small extent, with a hollow beyond, the approach must be played with little run on it. Perfect play is necessary to get down in four.

The 2nd hole is a short one, and a well-judged iron or mashie shot, over a small bunker, should result in a three.