A Victorian mansion once owned by the man who founded one of the greatest golfing tournaments in the world has been rescued from ruin and turned into the ultimate 'des res' for golfers.

Coodham House, near Symington in Ayrshire was the family home of James Ogilvy Fairlie, the creator of Prestwick Golf Course and the man who started the Open Championship 149 years ago.

The once ruined four-storey Victorian mansion has been resurrected from a derelict shell and turned into six exclusive apartments and three additional luxury homes just minutes from Turnberry, Royal Troon and Prestwick golf courses.

"Fairlie is credited as being the man who persuaded golf course architect Old Tom Morris to design Prestwick Golf Club in 1851 and of setting up the first ever British Open Championship at the same venue nine years later," said Malcolm Campbell, Chief Executive of The Links Golf Association.


"He was a leading character in the Royal & Ancient back in the early days and was a mentor to Old Tom.

"Old Tom held him in such high regard he acted as his caddy and it was Fairlie who took him down from St Andrews to Prestwick to build the golf course which led to the first Open Championship.

"He is recognised as a leading historical figure among those who delve into the roots of the game."

Coodham House was built in memory of James's father, William Fairlie, by his widow Margaret who bought the estate in 1825 and commissioned the large and opulent country house as the new family home. It was here that James, who inherited the estate in 1845, began planning the Prestwick course and the Open Championship - now considered one of the greatest golf tournaments in the world.

"We were aware that in renovating Coodham House we were acting as custodians of history and culture as well as simply redesigning a magnificent property," said Willy Findlater of CDP Architects.

"Being a listed building meant it all had to be restored using traditional skills and to satisfy the requirements of South Ayrshire Council and Historic Scotland we had to ensure the integrity of the historic fabric was maintained."

Traditional lime mortars and putties were used while samples of the remaining stone were taken away for analysis to find an exact geological match for the original pink sandstone quarried from Glasgow.

(GK/KMcA)