A quarter of a century ago it was said that the golfing visitor to Scotland journeyed to St Andrews for the history, and to Turnberry for the beauty. Nowadays this is only partially true.
Consider: ‘the Duel in the Sun’ – Nicklaus v Watson in 1977; Greg Norman’s 63 in the wind in 1986; and Nick Price’s eagle putt in 1994. Turnberry’s golfing history has begun to reflect the magnificence of its setting.
There are of course 36 holes at Turnberry, with the Ailsa and the Arran Courses. The latter is a worthy challenge, but it is the Ailsa that everyone wants to play. As beautifully maintained as Muirfield, it features a litany of memorable holes. Perhaps it is not as breathtakingly rugged as one or two great links – there are no giant sand hills and no spectacular changes in elevation, but then Turnberry is breathtaking in a different way.
After three holes ‘inland’, as it were, the Ailsa Course hugs the shore for a series of dramatic challenges between the 4th and 11th. The most celebrated holes are undoubtedly the 9th and 10th. The former is played adjacent to Turnberry Lighthouse, built over the remains of Turnberry Castle, birthplace of Robert the Bruce. The championship tee is perched on a pinnacle of rock with the sea crashing below. Play this hole and the wonderfully curving 10th and you can appreciate why comparisons are so often drawn between Turnberry and Pebble Beach.

DIRECTIONS
5 miles north of Girvan on A77

		Turnberry Hotel Golf Course and Spa is just one of the courses detailed in Golfing Guides of Britain& Ireland to order this book click here

© 2002 Golfing Guides. All rights reserved.
Use of this website signifies your agreement to the Terms of Use.