Trump Turnberry

You can’t rush perfection, Turnberry’s Ailsa Course is proof.  It was established in 1902, modified in 1906, modified again in 1909, redesigned in 1938 then nearly disappeared after the Second World War when it was converted into an airbase with several holes flattened into concrete runways. It was restored and reopened in 1951 as one of Scotland’s finest links to the extent it hosted The Open for the first time in 1977 when Tom Watson’s 65-65 weekend beat Jack Nicklaus’ 65-66.  MacKenzie & Ebert made extensive alterations before The Open in 2009 then Ebert returned for a major update in 2015.  The result is spectacular, particularly but by no means limited to holes 9-11 that play across and along the bay atop rock outcrops on the left; dunes, pot bunkers and high fescue on the right.  The club’s famous lighthouse includes an incredible two-bedroom suite and one of the most memorable halfway houses in golf.

Click here for the golf course IMAGE GALLERY

Turnberry added a second 18-hole course in 1954 called the Arran.  Nearly half a century later, Martin Ebert reworked parts of the layout to create the Kintyre course, then returned for a major remodeling that opened in 2017 as the King Robert Bruce.  It inescapably plays second fiddle to the Ailsa, but you wouldn’t realize that if it stood alone.  All the bunkers were overhauled with traditional revetted pots greenside and fairway traps given a rugged marram-fringed treatment. Sandy waste areas were added as was a wetlands space between 5 and 13. Four new holes were created on Bain’s Hill.  The views from 8, 9, 10 and 11 are breathtaking.   All told the resort is now home to a pair of genuinely inspiring layouts that deserve every accolade.