Barassie Links 12th Hole. Pic Kenny Smith, Kenny Smith Photography

Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Club, one of the finest championship links courses in Scotland, is looking forward to hosting two leading female events at amateur and professional level in 2020.

The prestigious Ayrshire club on the outskirts of Troon has been selected by The R&A as Final Qualifying venue for this year’s AIG Women’s British Open, which is staged at nearby Royal Troon in August.

Final Qualifying will take place at Barassie on Monday 17 August, before a stellar field assembles at Troon three days’ later for the four-round event – won by Englishwoman Georgia Hall in 2018 and Japan’s Hinako Shibuno last summer.

Continuing their support of female golf, Barassie looks forward to welcoming world-class players for The R&A Women’s Amateur from 23-27 June. Won last year by England’s Emily Toy, the event has been staged since 1893 and past winners also include Leona Maguire and Major champions Hall and Anna Nordqvist. The selections continue Barassie’s impressive history of hosting leading amateur and professional events, having acted as a Final Qualifying venue for The Open in 2009.

Barassie Links 4th Hole. Pic Kenny Smith, Kenny Smith Photography

Barassie, which staged the Boys Amateur in 2010 and the Scottish Amateur Stroke Play in 2012, also held Final Qualifying for the 2012 Senior Open Championship and the 2017 Scottish Open. The club are delighted to now be achieving further recognition, announcements that reflect positively on the membership and to help attract further visitors to the west coast layout.

David Addison, General Manager, said: “We very much look forward to hosting these prestigious events in 2020, adding to the rich history of Kilmarnock (Barassie). Being associated with the AIG Women’s British Open is fantastic for the club, while The Women’s Amateur is another leading event on the global golf circuit. We are delighted with our selections which reflect the quality of our product at the club – both on and off the course.”

Barassie, which impressively saw Euan Walker become the fourth member from the club to represent Great Britain and Ireland in last September’s Walker Cup, has worked hard to maintain and improve the standard of its renowned links.

Last year, course changes – notably the addition of a new short 12^th hole – saw Barassie achieve a new look to help boost enjoyment and playability. Working with designer Paul Kimber, an area of the club’s property was identified to create the exciting new par-3 hole with good drainage, as well as removing two long walks between holes. After gorse was taken away and sand imported from other parts of the site, the new 12^th, known as ‘Hillhouse,’ replaced the former par-3 6^th hole.

To create a better link between the 5^th green and the former 7^th fairway, Kimber also built new teeing grounds near the 5^th green to enable play towards the new 6^th fairway from a completely different angle and achieve a right-to-left dogleg hugging the railway line. The total yardage for the par-72 course has reduced by eight yards to 6,814, while the standard scratch for all levels has remained the same.

Coupled with other initiatives, such as rough reduction, the course changes have been welcomed by members and visitors alike.

Rookie Challenge Tour pro Walker, meantime, has added to the club’s roll of honour, following in the spike mark of former Amateur champion Gordon Sherry and fellow ex-Walker Cup players Jim Milligan and Jack McDonald. For more information on Kilmarnock (Barassie), please contact: 01292 313920 or visit www.kbgc.co.uk 

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Blairquhan Castle

Blairquhan Castle

Set in over 200 acres of private land and gardens in the heart of unspoilt Ayrshire, Blairquhan Castle is the ideal venue for an unforgettable golf holiday. This magnificent 19^th century baronial castle is surrounded by many great golf courses in Ayrshire like the Ailsa course at Trump Turnberry and Royal Troon golf club, which are both in close proximity. Within only 20 minute drive to Prestwick International Airport and 50 minute drive to Glasgow International Airport, Blairquhan Castle offers great accessibility to international golfers.

Blairquhan Castle boasts 4 stunning function rooms offering opportunities for private dining, evening entertainment, or just simply relaxing in the grand setting and enjoying a wee dram! Our 15 individually designed bedrooms are designed in a sumptuous yet elegant fashion, which will make you feel right at home from the moment you arrive.

By opting to hire the castle for your own exclusive use you’ll be able to enjoy all that the property and its grounds has to offer. With fine food on offer, and the luxurious surroundings, Blairquhan Castle will be your ideal base for an unforgettable golf holiday!

For more information please contact us on 01655 770 239 or email enquiries@blairquhan.co.uk

Blairquhan Castle, Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland, KA19 7LY. www.blairquhan.co.uk

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