Turnberry (Ailsa)
The Ailsa Course at the Westin Turnberry Resort, Scotland is regarded as one of the finest golf courses in the world.
History of the course
Turnberry was originally owned by a railway company and was later used as an airfield during the Second World War. Renowned golf course architect Mackenzie Ross came as a savior to this place in 1946 when he altered it into one of the best golf courses in the world.
It is a links course, set against the backdrop of the ocean. The course is intertwined with turbulent dunes and rocky crags. The course is very demanding on the golfers, specially from hole No. 4-11, which is played along the sea. The weather is a big factor as it keeps changing all the time.
Course Trivia
- Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson are responsible for making the Ailsa Course famous throughout the world. During the 1977 British Open, one of the four majors, their rivalry was known as the “Duel in the Sun”. Ultimately, Watson won the tournament by one stroke.
- The signature hole of the course is perhaps the ninth hole. The remote tee is set on a rocky premonitory on the edge of the sea and you will have to drive the ball across the corner of the bay.
- The beauty of the surroundings will captivate your heart. The granite dome of Ailsa Craig, the low form of the tip of Argyll and the peaks of Arran highlighting the changing patterns of light and shade are some of them.
The Turnberry (Ailsa) Course has always featured among the top three courses in Britain . It holds the 11 th spot in Golf Digest magazine's list of Top 100 Golf Courses outside the US . As we continue on this tour we will learn about the other top-100 golf courses in the world.
