Few places in the world command an unmistakable total sense of awe when you first lay eyes upon them. Turnberry is this in so many ways, and at so many levels.
As you drive the A719 from Glasgow you are lulled by the staggering beauty mile after mile of the Scottish countryside leading to the Ayrshire Coast. The drive is strewn with some of the “Best of the Best” links golf courses in the world.
By all standards you will be unprepared by the stately Turnberry Resort when it bursts into view. The grand resort, elaborate sweeping hotel on the hill overlooking the famed Alisa Course, and the ever-present Alisa Craig granite Isle, resembling a large muffin offshore in the Fifth of Clyde, are just jaw dropping.
The grandeur, the splendor and magnificence will stop you in your tracks as your senses experience what is, Turnberry Resort.
Trump Turnberry’s lavishly refurbished clubhouse remains the heart of the après-Ailsa golfing experience, nodding respectfully to the property’s distinctive place in golf history, and featuring one of the largest professional shops in Europe.
The Duel in the Sun restaurant immortalizes 1977’s Watson-Nicklaus showdown serving local lobster and sustainable local cuisine overlooking the 18th hole, the dunes, and the Irish Sea beyond.
Trump Turnberry’s hotel accommodations are predictably lavish, contextual, and bear the stamp of Ivanka Trump’s consistently careful attention to detail.
The most stunning renovation, however, might very well be the 1873 Turnberry Point Lighthouse, which lies on the ruins of the 13th century Turnberry Castle. It has now been turned into a private full floor, two-bedroom suite, each with its own private balcony overlooking the Irish Sea and the Isle of Arran.
Along Ayrshire’s rugged coastline and rolling emerald hills Trump Turnberry hotel offers 192 guest rooms, including 4 suites and the iconic two-bedroom suite at The Turnberry Lighthouse that rises above the ruins of King Robert the Bruce’s Castle.
Trump Turnberry is a world-renowned bucket list golf destination.
Home to the Ailsa Course, redesigned by Mackenzie Ross between 1949 and 1951, and again by Martin Ebert between 2015 and 2016, has staged The Open Championship on four occasions (1977, 1986, 1994, and 2009).
It has also hosted many other important golf tournaments, including the Women’s British Open in 2002, the Walker Cup in 1963, the Amateur Championship in 1961, 1983, 1996, and 2008, and the Senior Open Championship on seven occasions, 1987–90, 2003, 2006, and 2012.
The other two courses at Turnberry are the King Robert the Bruce course and the nine-hole Arran course.
The Kintyre Course, opened in 2001 and existed at the resort until it was replaced by the King Robert the Bruce course in 2017. The Kintyre Course was designed by Donald Steel and built on the foundations of the old Arran layout, which had been rebuilt along with the Ailsa Course following World War II.
During the war, the resort was used as a hospital and the courses were flattened and paved for use as a major RAF airfield. The new Arran Course opened in 2002.
Other golf facilities at the resort include the Colin Montgomerie Links Golf Academy and a pitch and putt course.
In 2017, Trump Turnberry unveiled a new golfing experience on the Ayrshire coast, the magnificent King Robert the Bruce course inspired by the name and spirit of the first king of Scotland. At 7,203 yards and a par-72, King Robert the Bruce features spectacular views of Turnberry’s stunning coastline, castle ruins and, of course, the lighthouse.
The Ailsa is famed for its beauty and theatricality. It sits on top of a craggy headland that looks out over the island of Ailsa Craig, the course’s namesake, and the Firth of Clyde. Awesome views over the Mull of Kintyre and the magical Isle of Arran mean you won’t know which way to look. Aside from the sheer visual-appeal offered by Ailsa Golf Course, this is the place where 59 -year -old Tom Watson famously lost a 4-hole play-off to Stewart Cink at the 2009 Open, a game that has never since been forgotten.
Turnberry was a popular golf course and resort from its inception, made accessible because of the Maidens and Dunure Light Railway. It closed in both World Wars for military use, and there was concern it would not open following World War II, but it was redesigned by Mackenzie Ross and re-opened in 1951. The course was the scene of the 1977 Open Championship, where Tom Watson scored a close victory over Jack Nicklaus.
The property has been owned by the Trump Organization since 2014, who now brand the course Trump Turnberry.
By any standard, the Turnberry Ailsa golf course is world-renowned and very highly rated by all. Feted by Nick Price when he declared “there are only a handful of courses in the world that have the rugged beauty of the Ailsa Course.”, the Ailsa has long been regarded as one of the finest in the world.
This course isn’t one that demands great power, more nuanced skill off the tee and on the approach shots, particularly when the wind blows. Magnificent coastal scenery in the shape of the Isle of Arran, the Mull of Kintyre and Ailsa Craig makes for a stunning backdrop that accompanies you every step of the way.
While it is true for most Pebble Beach and St. Andrews head up every golfers bucket list. I might add for shear experience, and visual magnificence there are few places, if any, in the world like Turnberry.
If you are a golfer that understands the difference between playing a bucket list course and experiencing an unimaginable round of golf, then you must come to Turnberry. Every moment here is as pure as it gets in the game of golf.
Turnberry Resort
Located on the captivating Ayrshire coast and immersed in history, Trump Turnberry has been an iconic landmark on Scotland’s renowned coastline since 1906. Exceptionally designed in every way, the selection of rooms, suites, villas and self-catered apartments provide the perfect haven for every traveler. With floor to ceiling windows and luxuriously appointed furnishings guest rooms provide breathtaking views as you enjoy the utmost in comfort and old-world refinement. Perfect for a golf getaway, world renowned championship golf courses are characterized by extraordinary views and rewarding challenges. Added to this all are a selection of exhilarating outdoor pursuits and adventures, there something to offer every traveler during their Scotland getaway, including archery, horseback riding, air rifle shooting, paddleboarding, kayaking, clay pigeon shooting, electric bikes, kite surfing, and quad biking. Guests may also choose to indulge with an array of rejuvenating treatments at the Spa.
Want To Know More About Golfing In Scotland?
A GOLF TREK TO FIFE ST ANDREWS SCOTLAND
ST ANDREWS SCOTLAND: FIRST TEE – THE OLD COURSE
WESTERN GAILES IRVINE SCOTLAND: THE AYRSHIRE COAST OF SCOTLAND
