Ayrshire, Scotland
Turnberry (Ailsa Course)
Willie Fernie's Ayrshire resort links — rebuilt by Mackenzie Ross after WWII, host of four Open Championships including the 1977 'Duel in the Sun', and now operating as Trump Turnberry.
Course overview
The Ailsa Course at Turnberry occupies a clifftop headland on the Ayrshire coast with the Turnberry Lighthouse, Ailsa Craig, and the Isle of Arran all visible from the course. Willie Fernie designed the original layout in 1901–1906 in conjunction with the Turnberry Hotel and the Glasgow and South Western Railway. Both World Wars saw the course requisitioned as a military airfield; Mackenzie Ross rebuilt it essentially from scratch in 1946–1951, constructing the routing over former concrete runways that endures today. The Ailsa has hosted The Open Championship four times (1977, 1986, 1994, 2009), with the 1977 'Duel in the Sun' between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus regarded as one of the finest Open Championships in history. Donald Trump's ownership from 2014 prompted a further renovation by Martin Ebert, completed in 2016.
The essentials
- Architect
- Willie Fernie; Mackenzie Ross (rebuild 1951); Martin Ebert (renovation 2016)
- Established
- 1906
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 6,810 m
- Handicap
- HCP 0–24
- Location
- Ayrshire, Scotland
Character & atmosphere
The Ailsa demands relentless decision-making against the backdrop of coastal exposure — cliff-edge holes, deep rough, and the prevailing westerlies off the Firth of Clyde reward controlled, accurate driving and creative links play far more than power alone.
Highlights
Why play here
- Designed by Willie Fernie; Mackenzie Ross (rebuild 1951); Martin Ebert (renovation 2016), opened in 1906.
- Sea views feature throughout the round.
- A championship-calibre test that has hosted professional golf.
- Part of a full golf resort, with facilities on site.
Signature Hole
18
Renamed 'Duel in the Sun' in 2003 in recognition of the 1977 Watson-Nicklaus finale, the closing par 4 plays uphill back toward the hotel with the Firth of Clyde visible throughout — the most celebrated finish in Scottish golf.
Facilities
Practical guidance
Plan your visit
How to get there
Prestwick Airport is the most convenient; the drive south to Turnberry via the A77 coastal road takes around 45 minutes. Glasgow Airport has more connections and is also manageable with a slightly longer drive. Car hire is the best option for exploring South Ayrshire.
Where to stay
For any serious links golf tour, St Andrews is the natural headquarters. It sits within a short drive of the highest concentration of world-class links in Scotland, and the town itself has enough character and dining to fill the evenings.
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