Golf has come a long way since the historic meeting at Prestwick more than 140 years ago which saw the start of Britain's Open Championship. That's how long Ayrshire has had a link with international golf. St Andrew's may be the home of golf, but Ayrshire is where it went to school.

Now Ayrshire boasts two spectacular Open venues Royal Troon and an even better one -. Turnberry. The very name redolent of all that is good in Scottish golf - links, sun, wind and wonderful views.

This world famous resort, with its beautiful Hotel , Spa and Activity Centre also enjoys those views of the Firth of Clyde and over to Ireland. The famous Duel in the Sun - that epic battle between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson in the Open Championship at Turnberry in 1977 - has now entered the folklore of golf. Relive the moment for yourself as you tee off that last drive up the famous 18th hole..

But the end of your round at Turnberry need only be the start of your golfing epic in Ayrshire.

There is almost an embarrassment of fabulous course to choose from. Never mind the Open venues there is scorecard of fantastic links courses runnning up and down the coast. There are the Gailes courses, Glasgow and Western, scene of many great events in their own right. There is Kilmarnock Barassie with 27 classic holes across the fence from Troon and Prestwick, and Irvine Bogside. All four are Open Championship qualifying courses.

Just down the coast, six miles from Turnberry is the neat layout of the Girvan Golf Club. Troon also boasts the gentler challenges Lochgreen and Fullarton, - public courses and therefore easily accessible. Then there is Ayr Belleisle, a classic inland layout designed by the famous James Braid, which allows a change of pace from the bump and run of the links.

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For even more golfing pleasure take the ferry from Ardrossan to the Isle of Arran. Make the short journey across the island to Blackwaterfoot to the gem of gems, the 12-hole Shiskine Golf Club. According to the Ayrshire and Arran Tourist Board."this is the true heritage of Scottish golf; golf as it was played by Old Tom Morris and Willie Park and Willie Fernie too, who laid it out. It is the challenge against wind and weather and nature and not against lumbering earth movers, computerised irrigation systems and $1 dollar design fees. Fiona Brown, a delightful lady who has run the Shiskine pro shop for more than a decade, will explain to you how to play the 'Twa Burns', the 'Shelf', 'Hades', 'Paradise' and the others, she'll even give you a map. But even the redoubtable Ms Brown will not be able to tell you how to play the famous Par 3 'Crow's Nest'. That is a matter for you, your mashie and your imagination."

Scotland's premier Board goes on the explain that visitors to Ayrshire, Arran and Cumbrae can take advantage of no fewer than three golf passes that will make their visit even better value than it will be anyway. The 'Arran Golf Pass' (tel 01770 860226) includes Shiskine and six other courses including Machrie Bay. The Ayrshire Open Qualifier Card (tel 01383 629940) offers guaranteed tee times at Glasgow Gailes, Barassie, Irvine Bogside and the Kintyre course at Turnberry, while the South Ayrshire Golf Breaker Pass (tel 01292 616255) offers six rounds over seven consecutive days on eight courses including Ayr Belleisle, Iran and Lochgreen.

Gaelic is not the native tongue of Ayrshire and Arran. Even so, its golf courses offer you a hundred thousand welcomes.