By Paul Gallagher

With the excitement and drama of The Open at Royal Troon still fresh in the mind, there has never been a better time to book your next golfing trip to Ayrshire where the region is quite simply blessed with so many championship courses.

Whether you were rooting for Xander Schauffele, hoping Justin Rose would roll back the years or wishing the luck of the Irish would get Shane Lowry over the line, there can be no denying Royal Troon and the 2024 Open Championship delivered once again. It was up there with the mesmerising head-to-head between Phil Mickelson and Henrik Stenson, which the latter won, when last played at the famous Troon venue in 2016.

For Schauffele, he was simply too good and separated himself from the field on the final day to become the Champion Golfer of the Year and pick up the most famous trophy of them all. The Claret Jug was secured with his winning nine-under total of 275 that included four birdies on the back nine in a final round of 65.

As the golfing world draws breath after final Major of the year, amateurs up and down the country are planning their next golf trip. And if it’s the best Play & Stay options in Ayrshire you’re after, then look no further than the family owned SimpsInns group with award winning hotels and golf facilities adjacent to the region’s best courses.

The Old Loans Inn is less than two miles from Royal Troon and has been named Small Golf Hotel of the Year and unprecedented four times at the Scottish Golf Tourism Awards. The former Coaching Inn is packed full of charm and is a popular choice for visiting golfers. With 20 luxury bedrooms and a great restaurant and bar area, the Old Loans Inn really is your perfect golfing partner.

The Gailes Hotel & Spa is the signature venue within the group and is literally surrounded by some of the best courses in Ayrshire, plus has extensive golf facilities on site. Dundonald Links, venue for recent Scottish Opens is across the road, Glasgow Gailes is next door where you can walk to the first tee from the hotel and the magical Western Gailes is less than one mile from the hotel.

The Gailes also has Ayrshire’s only Toptracer Range with state of the art screens and technology if looking to work on your game or simply enjoy fun golf challenges with friends. GG’s Coffee Shop and Sports Bar is part of the Gailes Golf:Leisure complex and is an excellent choice for informal food and drink, while Si! Spa at The Gailes is the ideal place to kick back after a round and book in for a treatment.

As Majors like The Open inspire a generation, there is also have hugely popular Juniors Do Golf coaching programme at The Gailes where Head PGA Pro Scott Garrett and his team have dedicated programmes for budding young golfers of all ages. Visit www.gaileshotel.com for more details and how to book. Remember to book early as Juniors Do Golf programmes are very popular.

Further up the coast, golfers will find The Waterside Hotel, which is situated on one of the most picturesque, water’s edge locations in Ayrshire. With panoramic views across the Firth of Clyde and 23 luxury rooms and suites, The Waterside is a great choice for your next golf trip. Local courses include West Kilbride and Largs, while other great courses such as Irvine Bogside, Kilmarnock Barassie or the three public courses in Troon (Darley, Lochgreen and Fullarton) are all good options.

The team at SimpsInns can tailor packages to suit individual group needs and they work closely with all the major golf clubs in the area. They also have dedicated Play & Stay packages for you to consider.

But rather than take our word for it, click through to any of the SimpsInns hotel websites to view our latest Play & Stay golf packages.

-Ends

For more information
E: info@simpsinns.com
T: +44 (0) 1294 204040
W: watersideayrshire.com