PRESTWICK DRIVING RANGE TO CLOSE ?

Golfers in the Ayr & Prestwick area look set to lose one of the most popular practice facilities in the area, with strong rumours circulating that the Prestwick Golf Driving Range may be destined for closure, perhaps as early as the turn of the year.

If the information is true, the loss of the facility will be a major blow to local players, and will be a particular loss to junior development, with a number of schemes, including the national Clubgolf programme presently being delivered at the Prestwick range.

The facility, which was opened in the 1980's, occupies land adjacent to the car parks and freight centre of Prestwick Airport. The area of land itself has a long history of golf association, being part of the area on which was laid out the original 9 hole course of the Prestwick St. Cuthbert club in 1899. Indeed the driving range land formed the 5th, 6th & 7th holes of the last St. Cuthbert course to occupy the site, before the course was compulsory purchased in the early 1960's to allow the extension of the runway & building of the new terminal building at the airport, with the St. Cuthbert club moving to their present site around the same time (The picture shows the old St. Cuthbert course with the area of the driving range lying beyond and to the right fo the two bridges).

The Driving range are advertising restricted times during the next couple of weeks, with the range only being open from 6 - 9 p.m., due to site exploratory woirk.

As to the future of the site, one strong suggestion is a move by Prestwick Airport to develop the land to form additional car parking and a hotel complex.

Should the stories be true, the loss of the Prestwick Driving Range facility will be a sad day for golfers, both young and old, in Prestwick and surrounding area.