Kilmarnock Barassie

I confess, I was confused. We drove into the town of Troon and the Satnav said we were just two minutes from Kilmarnock Barassie.

I knew there was some serious golf in these parts - indeed, we are scheduled to return later this summer to play the Open venue, its sibling and nearby Western Gailes.

A couple of years ago, we played Dundonald which is only a stone's throw away.

Apparently, in common with many golfers, I had not realised that Kilmarnock Barassie was also in this neck of the woods.

Indeed, right up until a day before my visit, I had presumed it was in the environs of Kilmarnock, a town that I only knew because of its football team,

I learned that the club moved from the town that gave its name at the end of the 19th century.

Thirty years ago, it acquired adjacent land to create a lengthened championship course which comprises nine of the original holes from the traditional course and nine new build.

The club is seeking constant improvement both in the clubhouse which has been redesigned to create a part-modern, part-traditional feel and on the course with plans for more changes in the near future.

Thus, I was delighted to take the chance of playing at what the locals know as Barassie after being drawn against a member in a society knockout.

After an excellent breakfast, chat with the knowledgable and enthusiastic general manager and a much-needed bit of putting practice, my host and I adjourned to the links.

He told me that the wind isn't usually against on what turned out to be an inauspicious opener - a 500+-yard par-five which saw us both drive way right,, clearly intimidated by the prospect of bunkers deep rough or even the housing estate on the right.

Fortunately, I began to get my act together on the second - a par-four which demands an approach over a burn. Mine nestled to five feet but, sadly, I missed my birdie putt.

Water threatens again for longer hitters on the par-four third. The sensible shot is a lay-up[ before a clip into a big green that falls top left to bottom right.

I was told that the par-three fourth will be lost if planned changes go ahead and that makes me a little sad even though I succumbed to its perils.

My mistake was punching the ball down the middle rather the float into the green or go down the right hand side.

The consequence was that I saw it catch an undulation and plop into the burn that runs the length of the hole on the left-hand side.

There are great views across neighbouring Western Gailes and out to see from the back tees on the fifth.

They clearly inspired me on this par-four that runs parallel to a railway line, My drive flew the bunker on the right-hand side and my second shot trundled up to within two feet of the hole. A sip of whisky celebrated the birdie.

My progress in my match had been serene until I found a sand trap on the left side of the green on the dogleg par-four ninth. From that moment on, I realised why the slope rating of Kilmarnock Barassie is so high.

Indeed, sand traps offered comedy on the par-three 12th which was against the wind and left me in a dilemma over club selection.

Consequently the ball fell into a bunker in front of the green and, after failing to get out first time, I flipped it up on to the green only to see it take a curve and fall into the neighbouring trap.

At that stage, I had given up four of a five-hole advantage and looked certain to turn comfortable victory into dismal defeat.

The parade towards my humiliation continued on the par-three 14th because I dithered again over which club and the strength of my strike - finding sand once more.

Thus, as we stood on the 15th tee we were all square with my host having found form which had deserted him early in the game and me pinballing my balls from bunker to bunker, I needed a break.

I should have been emboldened because my opponent was giving me a shot on the par-four 15th but there must have been metal in my pill and a magnet in the trap on the left-side of the fairway of this bending par-four.

The truth is that I got very lucky because my host mishit his chip into the greenside bunker and I won the hole on handicap.

Thus, with my nerves glued back together, I was able to settle down for the par-five 16th, a lovely dogleg into a green that filters down to the right and the 17th - a short par-four with a worrisome dip on the left of the target.

With the breeze, the home hole offers a birdie opportunity if a drive can successfully weave between the fairway bunkers, leaving a pitch into a green with a slight false front.

The wind had made the match challenging and the bunkers had multiplied the difficult but I had nonetheless had a great time in super company.

It was rounded off by a delicious scone as I waited for Mrs W to deal with a flat tyre on a car... but that is a different story.