Where to Stay: Trump Turnberry Golf Resort
Without a doubt, Turnberry's Ailsa course merits a seat at the table when discussing the top golf courses on the globe. With so much pedigree, history, and fantastic memories, it's easy to see why the Ailsa course is one of the most sought-after golf courses for a UK golf break.
Create Memories You'll Never Forget.
We are old enough to remember the epic "Duel in the Sun" at the 106th Open. Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus battled it out in the first-ever Open Championship hosted at Turnberry. Many believe it to be the best tournament ever played. Watson and Nicklaus recorded identical rounds of 68,70, and 66 on the first three days. They were paired together on the final day to win. In the searing heat of the Scottish summer, the two guys took to the field after a summer of drought. They delivered some of the most remarkable golf ever seen. The Ailsa course was in excellent shape. Both players battled until the 18th hole when Tom Watson holed a two-footer for his fourth birdie in the final six holes to win by one stroke over Nicklaus. Turnberry, of course, had a somewhat different layout than today's course, which is considered the greatest in Scotland.
Turnberry was founded in 1902, died twice, and is currently in its third and most majestic iteration. And, since 2016, when it had its most recent refurbishment, the Alisia has been widely considered one of the most stunning coastal courses in the world, rivalling Pebble Beach and Cypress Point in California. Subsequent repairs have been critical in keeping Turnberry in such high regard. The most important work was conducted in 1951 when Phillip Mackensie Ross was tasked with resurrecting the course for the third time. It wasn't easy, but the results were astounding, and Turnberry was awarded the Open Championship in 1977. It has subsequently hosted the famous event three more times, with victories by Greg Norman, Nick Price, and Stuart Cink. Martin Ebert improved every hole in 2015, with the primary improvements being a redesign of the holes leading out to the renowned lighthouse.
Hands down, the Signature Hole on today's layout is the 9th. This is one of the world's most magnificent golf holes. Formerly a par four, it is now a par three measuring about 250 yards from the back tee. From the tips, the hole plays along a rugged shoreline. It necessitates one of the most courageous carries you'll ever meet upon getting to the green. And at the bottom of this pit, the lighthouse has been turned into a halfway house and one of the world's most opulent rooms. From the 11th hole, you begin to make your way back from the rugged shoreline and towards the Turnberry hotel. However, from the 4th through the 11th hole, you have encountered some of the most stunning golf holes in the world.
Scotland's golf courses are the best in the world if you are considering a short break or holiday, but if I could only pick one to play the rest of my life, it would be Turnberry's Ailsa course.
