Turnberry seems to inspire nothing but affection from all who visit – from Open champions to thrill-seeking holidaymakers.

Royal Troon is a course of extremes and contrasts. It famously possesses the longest and shortest holes on the Open rota, at 123 and 601 yards respectively.

Prestwick is in many ways a museum piece, a shrine to the days 150 years ago when it hosted the first Open Championship

Western Gailes is up there with the very best. Laid out in a figure of eight, the course has the railway track running down one side and the ocean running down the other.

Dundonald is among a new breed of classic links courses in Scotland. It is a wonderfully challenging course where the breath is taken away by its relentless quality.

The overall design concept for the course has been to introduce fairway bunkers with sand faces and marram grass “eyebrow” faces tempting “risk or reward” shots.

Irvine is not quite a seaside course but the land is close enough for the turf to boast that sandy texture that is such a delight to strike the ball from.

Just opposite Western Gailes, on your left as you travel towards Troon by rail, is another layout of the highest quality.