SUNDAY MORNING - AYR BELLEISLE

Belleisle, in the main town of Ayr, is far from a course of modest aspiration. Designed by James Braid in 1927, simply to satisfy an increasingly insatiable demand for the game. It is rather a course of genuine and proven quality, providing an enjoyable challenge to hordes of appreciative golfers who are only too happy to sing its many praises.

Belleisle would probably be the best public course in Scotland if it weren't for those upstarts, St Andrews and Carnoustie. Tour players like to sharpen their pencils before major competitions here! That's how good it is, and surely one of the few true municipals to host professional tournaments.

Belleisle is a classic and a parkland course of genuine character. Set in the harmonious woodland of Belleisle Park, its beech tree lined and extra long fairways are interlaced by the serpentine-like Curtecan Burn.

There are only two par fours under 400 yards and a cracker of a par three at the 17th.

Without a doubt everyone felt this parkland course was a real gem. Apart from the wonderful setting, it had a great variety of holes, some good challenges, but was not too punishing for the most part. Warned of foul weather forecast for midday, we actually managed to finish in sunshine, with the skies eventually opening just as the last group left the 18th green and we walked into the car park.

From all the jabbered messages it emerged that Jennings had had another strong round on 33 points, but this had been bettered by Clark on 34. But after the "lull" of Saturday afternoon, Dr. Golf roared back with an astonishing 36 points, and certainly had a twinkle of hope in his eye.

So we drove off to our traditional prize-giving ceremony with a great sense of anticipation as to who had managed to squeeze a win out of this keenly contested tournament.