Andrew Douglas recalls happy holiday memories of Ayr and the Ayrshire coast

Ayrshire has always been a special place for me. The relationship started when I was barely out of a pushchair and continued through primary and secondary schools until the year my parents reckoned that it was about time that I went my ''own'' holidays.

The annual family pilgrimage to Ayr took place in July although my baptism with the region was at Seamill. Down to the sea we would go every day for a paddle and every day my pushchair would do its best to sink in the deep sand that covered the path to the beach.

The following year, and for at least the next 14, the family descended on the town of Ayr. Was there anywhere else in Scotland to go? We stayed at guest houses and hotels in Queen's Terrace or along Racecourse Road, and to this day these areas remain popular with the

holidaymaker.

Most of the hotels are still doing business but are trading under newer, more fashionable names. Moving with the times has meant a lot of investment in refurbishment and upgrading of rooms and facilities. But move they have and they are all looking the better for it.

Thankfully the seafront at Ayr is protected by order and it remains untouched by development. Football and frisbees on the acres of the Low Green never got in anyone's way because of the sheer vastness of the area. But it was the beach and its perfect sand that prize sandcastles were made on. This I know through personal experience. My holiday best pal was Brian McLauchlan from Innerleithen. We were in the same hotel and each day we would go to the beach to play games that had been organised by a local church group.

One morning a sandcastle building competition had been organised. And after about an hour of sculpting bridges, moats and turrets we had created a very fine sandcastle. It impressed the judges too, and we walked off with a first prize box of liquorice allsorts each. Attending the sponsor's church the following Sunday in the Sandgate was quite painless.

Miles of beaches, miles of pavement and miles of flat grass land are still there today. Where better to take young legs for a bit of exercise, good clean fun and fresh air?

It has to be admitted that some days it rained and from the lounge window of our hotel could be seen many a glum face. But with a belief that every cloud has a silver lining, I became addicted to golf in that very lounge.

Mr Wilson, a keen golfer from Monifieth, was hotelbound because of the weather. Out came the putter and balls and after half-an-hour I had had my first golf lesson. Challenges were soon laid down and father and son would be seen on putting greens around Ayr morning, noon and night.

A Henry Cotton blade putter was gratefully received the following Christmas.

Since then I have hit many thousands of golf balls and that first club (now at rest in a cupboard) has been replaced with a Ping putter. But more important, from the rainy day in a hotel lounge in Ayr, I have ''thought hook'' on the first tee at Old Prestwick, never licked the Postage Stamp at Troon and have come off Lochgreen with woods almost reaching meltdown. What enjoyment, and what luck it occasionally rains in Ayr.

Ayrshire may not be the official home of golf but it is home to many great courses. History records the first Open being played at Old Prestwick. Ayrshire courses are accessible to the public and that's where the real attraction is for the visitor. Public courses such as Belleisle, set amid beautiful parkland, takes a peak at history as Burns Cottage comes into view. And the long-established Lochgreen and Darley in Troon are joined by newcomer Brunston Castle near Dailly.

But there's more to Ayrshire than golf. A run in the country to Culzean Castle has its interesting moments. On the way there it is highly likely that you will go up or is it down the Electric Brae? Since my first experience of this hill, which makes vehicles that are pointing down the slope go backwards, I have consumed much time on trying to figure out what is actually happening. I have even thought about going back on a quiet evening to try and solve the mystery.

Dodd's of Troon with their distinctive green buses would take us beyond the town limits and the Heads of Ayr, Culzean Castle, Girvan, Prestwick, Largs, and Troon were all good for a day out.

After a hard day on the putting green or a long walk along the front there was no place quite like the Country Club in Newmarket Street or the rather grand Fleury Meng opposite. The Country Club was probably less county than its rival across the road which was a palace filled with pearled ladies with blue rinses.

Today the family going to Ayrshire for a holiday will not miss out on any of my happy childhood memories. The Low Green still has acres of untouched space where children can play safely. The beaches (Troon has a Blue Flag) are kept clean and tidy. And father and child can still tank the golf ball across the putting greens and afterwards wander into the town to one of the many modern-day Country Clubs or Fleury Mengs.

Take your family there and see for yourself, they deserve to have happy memories too.