The youngest of Scotland's Open Championship venues but by no means overshadowed by its rivals.
The first 13 holes were laid out by Willie Fernie in 1903 and three years later it was the first
hotel and golf complex in the world with the wealthy travelling down by train from Glasgow to visit.
It staged its first Open in 1977. Locals have a saying that if you can't see Ailsa Craig, the
1,208-foot high granite rock off the Ayrshire coast, it's raining; if you can, it's about to rain.
They do a disservice to an area of Scotland that is home to a glorious course, which is amongst the
best. Often when the rest of Britain is shivering in a freezing winter, the sun is shining on
Turnberry and the temperature mild. Play Turnberry's Ailsa Course on one of those days with a
light breeze coming in from the sea then there is nowhere you would rather be; play it in the
rain and high winds and your step quickens towards the beckoning lights of the 221-bedroom
Westin Turnberry Resort, which is as magnificent as its two links courses. Colin Montgomerie,
who has his Links Golf Academy here, says: 'It's the finest links course in the world.' The hotel
provides spectacular views of a breathtaking coastline and out to the Isle of Arran and the Mull
of Kintyre and, on a clear day, all the way to Ireland. With the Ailsa and its new sister, the
Kintyre, dominating Turnberry's 800 acres, a non-golfer could from their hotel room keep track
of their partner's progress with a powerful pair of binoculars.The old Arran course has been
completely redesigned as the Kintyre by Donald Steel as a championship standard course.The new
course incorporates Bains Hill, a stunning stretch of land extending to the coastline. In common
with the Ailsa, the Kintrye offers undulating greens, tight tee shots, pot bunkers and thick
Scottish rough. There are some excellent holes, especially the 8th with a drive from an elevated
tee towards the sea and a blind second to the green set in a gully by the rocks.
AILSA ( score card below) - 18 holes, 6,976 yards (6,440 yards medal tees), par 70 (69 medal).
Professional record 63. Amateur record 70.
KINTYRE -- 18 holes, 6,827 yards, par 72
Signature hole:
Ailsa Course: NINTH (454 yards, par 4) - The championship tee is perched out on a promontory of
cliff with a sheer drop of 50 feet. Not for someone suffering with vertigo. The medal tee is some
40 yards further on but still a spectacular tee shot. It takes a 200-yard drive from the championship
tee just to reach the fairway and a white stone marker shows you where to aim for. If you are on this
line, playing from the medal tees you will have a shot of about 180 yards to a large green untroubled
by bunkers.
Yes, all year round.
AILSA: £130 weekdays, £175 weekends (£105 if hotel guest). KINTYRE: £105 weekdays
and weekends (£90 if hotel guest).
Magnificent, well-appointed clubhouse with restaurant and bar. Functions catered for.
Trolley hire (not permitted on Ailsa course), club hire, caddies, changing rooms, putting green,
pro shop, practice ground, driving range, coaching clinics, memberships available.
15 miles south-west of Ayr on A77.
