The
world renown Turnberry, one of the truly great championship
courses of the world, sits proudly on the Firth of Clyde,
looking out towards Ireland. Overlooked by the imposing Turnberry
Hotel amid scenery on a grand scale the Ailsa Course weaves
it way along this quiet stretch of west coast countryside.Inland
lies a land steeped in the rich heritage of Scotlands
National Poet, Robert Burns.
To
the West is the intriguing silhouette of the Ailsa Craig
known to the locals as Paddys Milestone,
an island of Granite that seems to float on the water like
a huge marker buoy between the Scottish mainland and Ireland.
Turnberry has a somewhat chequered history, twice during the
past century the golf courses (Alisa & Arran) have been
dug up to make way for airplanes. In the First World War it
was the turn of the Royal Flying Corps who built a Training
Airfield, and then before the Second World War it was the
turn of the Royal Air Force, tearing up the links to build
an airfield with three runways, parts of which are still visible
today.
The first reconstruction was undertaken by Major Hutchinson
along with James Braid. The courses were regarded as holiday
layouts for the hotel until they were torn up to make way
for the Royal Air Force. When the Second World War was finished
there were some serious doubts that any rebuilding would take
place. British Transport Hotels, who owned the land forced
the British government into paying out compensation to enable
reconstruction to take place.
Golf
Course Architect Mackenzie Ross who, with the help of the
hotel companys superintendent of the grounds and golf
courses, created in the Ailsa Course one of the worlds
great Championship links. The original course at Turnberry
was very much different, being only 13 holes, laid out by
1883 Open Champion Willie Fernie. The Third Marquis, leased
land at Turnberry to the Glasgow and South Western
Railway Company, The course being built for the Marquiss
private use. A second 13 hole layout was laid out in 1905,
and when Turnberry Hotel was completed two years later the
railway company took over all the golfing facilities.
Turnberry has hosted both the Amateur Championship and the
Open Championship on three occasions apiece. Past Royal and
Ancient Secretary Sir Michael Bonallack won the first of five
amateur titles at Turnberry back in 1961. It was however the
1977 Open Championship, famously named as the Duel in
the Sun between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson that finally
confirmed Turnberrys status amongst the Greats. Hosting
its first Open Championship huge galleries witnessed
one of the great finishes in Open history when
Watson finished with two rounds of 65 to beat Nicklaus by
one shot. The Open returned in 1986 when Greg Norman won the
first of his two Opens putting together a course
record tying 63 in round three. Nick Price was victorious
in 1994, confirming Turnberrys popularity as the newest
Open Championship venue.
You will enjoy one of the best championship layouts to be
found anywhere in the world of golf.
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Turnberry
Hotel
and Golf Courses
Turnberry
KA26 9LT
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Founded:-
1906
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Type
of course:- Links
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No
of holes:- 18
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Distance:-
6976 yds
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Par:-
70 (SSS 72)
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Designer:-
Mackenzie Ross, Donald Steel
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Location:- Ayshire |
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