South Ayrshire, United Kingdom
Irvine Golf Club, known as Bogside, is an 18-hole links course with a par of 71 and approximately 6,415 yards in length, established in 1887 and redesigned by James Braid in 1926. Located on the west coast of Scotland approximately twenty-five miles south of Glasgow in Ayrshire, the course is sandwiched between the River Irvine and River Garnock in Irvine Bay. The name "Bogside" comes from the layout's proximity to a large area of marshland known as Bogside Flats, a "Site of Special Scientific Interest" (SSSI), bounded by the golf course to the north, and the rivers Irvine and Garnock to east and south.
The course can best be described as a mix of links and heathland, with fairways built on sand and divided by gorse and heather; every hole has its own identity whilst the quality of greens is traditionally amongst the course's strengths, though the course is not long by present-day standards and demands accurate shot making. It is often likened to Prestwick for the blind shots required. The seaside location benefits from the Gulf Stream, meaning the course is open year-round.
The club, established in 1887, is regularly used by the R&A as a Final Open Qualifying Course. In 2003, the club co-hosted the Amateur Championship with Royal Troon and in 2007, the British Seniors' Open with Turnberry. In 2009, the Ladies Home Internationals were successfully hosted at the club, and in 2016 the Scottish Youths Championship was held there, with the Ladies British Open Final Qualifying also being held at the club in 2017.
