Prestwick
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Template:Infobox Scotland place with map Prestwick is a town located in South Ayrshire on the central west coast of Scotland approximately 60 miles to the south-west of Glasgow, at the 2001 census it had a population of 15,478. It adjoins the larger town of Ayr, the centre of which is approximately 2 miles south.
Prestwick is famous for being the home of Open golf. The world's first Open golf Championship was played at the Prestwick Old Course in 1860 and the first twelve Open Championships were played there until 1872 (the Championship was not played in 1871). The town also hosts two other golf courses, St. Nicholas and St. Cuthberts. St. Nicholas is a traditional links course on the southern half of the town.
Prestwick has been the centre of Scotland's aviation industry since the 1930s. Prestwick Airport is a major international airport that caters for a number of low-cost airlines including Ryanair and Wizz Air. It also is a principal hub for air freight - Polar Air Cargo operates a fleet of Boeing 747 cargo aircraft from its Prestwick base. In addition, BAE Systems, Goodrich Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems and GE Aircraft Engines have maintenance/manufacturing facilities adjacent to the airfield. Ryanair also has a major maintenance facility at Prestwick. In July 2005 Prestick airport served as the main transport hub for visiting dignitaries attending the G8 conference in Gleneagles.
As well as the airport, Prestwick is one of the cornerstones of the UK air traffic control system, controlling 70% of UK airspace. This is in addition to being one half of the Shanwick Oceanic Control centre, which oversees all North Atlantic air traffic on the European side.
Prestwick's main secondary school is Prestwick Academy and there are a number of primaries in Prestwick - Glenburn, Kingcase and St Ninian's. The outlying villages of Monkton and Symington's primary schools also 'feed' the secondary school alongwith Heathfield primary in Ayr. St Ninian's primary is the Roman Catholic primary in the town and it's pupils can go to Queen Margaret Academy in Ayr or any other secondary school in the area, on leaving primary school.
See also