There's a good reason why Turnberry is ranked Britain's best
By David Brice, Golf International, Inc.
A deep-seated desire to experience the legendary courses of golf's homeland is the major motivator that draws growing numbers of American golfers across the Atlantic each year. Eager to pit their golfing skills against the classic links layouts of the place that gave birth to the game over six centuries ago, it's an irresistible call few serious golfers can ignore.
Scotland is and always has been the prime target of these golf travelers and perhaps that's the way it should be. With more legendary courses than any other country, these are the historic layouts that have proved to be the classic tests of any player's abilities.
Once considered the trip of a lifetime, most first time visitors quickly discover that a single trip is simply not enough to experience even a decent sampling of the vast array of Scotland's classic layouts that cry out to be played. This is a land of golfing plenty and legends abound - it would take a dozen trips to play all that demand attention and a dozen more to play them just one more time.
There may be no better place to start a Scottish golf experience than the west coast, home to a trio of such legends -- Prestwick, where The British Open began back in 1860; neighboring Royal Troon, another frequent British Open host and Turnberry, the most southerly of the country's great champions.
The Turnberry Hotel and Golf Resort, one of the most impressive golf havens in the entire British Isles, celebrated its centenary a couple of years ago and now on the north side of 100 years old, this jewel in Scotland's golfing crown has never looked better.
The plush, 5-star hotel sitting on its lofty throne, overlooks The Irish Sea and not one, but two championship layouts, the Ailsa Course and the more recently rejuvenated, Kintyre Course and The Irish Sea, flaunting its celebrity in the same Edwardian style it has for over a century, but with more self-confidence than ever. Turnberry's fabled Ailsa Course is now firmly embedded as the top ranked layout in the entire British Isles and after hosting The British Open in 1977, 1986 and 1994, will be honored for the fourth time in 2009. The Ailsa has earned its stripes and is a fully-fledged member of the elite club of golfing legends.
Back in 1945, the last thing Turnberry looked like was the setting for The British Open. The rolling expanse of fairways and greens had been leveled by bulldozers for use as an airbase during World War ll. Concrete runways, empty airplane hangars, fuel storage tanks, a control tower and abandoned military living accommodations, littered what had previously been a pristine coastline containing a pair of highly respected links layouts.
The great Mackenzie Ross was brought in to resurrect the courses after the war and by 1951 the mission was accomplished - Turnberry had been restored to its rightful place as one of the world's premier golf resorts, ranked among the most beautiful.
Accolades have been heaped upon the Ailsa Course ever since. Some have called it the Pebble Beach of Europe, while others consider Pebble Beach, the Turnberry of America. Consistently ranked as one of the top 3 courses in the British Isles for almost a decade, the Ailsa Course was elevated to the number one position just last year. Golf Digest Magazine gave the Ailsa 11th position among their Top 100 Courses Outside of the USA and the course regularly appears as one of the world's top 20 layouts. Whichever way you slice it, play Turnberry's Ailsa and you will be playing the crème de la crème of courses.
The level of maintenance here compares to the best and the layout has a never-ending variety of challenges, including strong, stirring holes that range from extremely difficult to others that encourage more aggressive play. Above all the Ailsa is a very honest course, devoid of trickery -- and while it provides plenty of drama, it also offers subtleties in profusion. The thinking golfer is always well rewarded.
On a course with no weak holes, the first three par-4's that lead to the sea may be the least strong. But the Ailsa can easily be forgiven, as these are only the opening act for the star-studded show that follows.
The sequence of holes running from the 4th to the 11th is arguably the best eight consecutive holes of any links course in existence. Hugging the shoreline, they tease, tantalize and frustrate with an ever-changing set of challenges and tests with no let up -- this is Scottish links golf at its very best.
The golf examination provides some respite for the next three holes and then, just as you have caught your breath, the Ailsa shows that the fight is far from over. From the perilously long par-3 15th to the 16th, where a meandering burn jealously protects the green, the holes become increasingly difficult as they lead up to the grand finale.
The 18th may appear to be surprisingly calm; until you recall this was the same stage where one of the most dramatic finishes in British Open history took place. It was here in 1977 that Tom Watson beat Jack Nicklaus by a single stroke and all of the drama occurred on this very hole.
Turnberry's Ailsa Course has earned its place as a legend of golf and is a layout to be savored and enjoyed to the fullest. This is links golf at its most splendid and a challenge every golfer must experience at least once. I guarantee the memory will last a lifetime.
For more information on playing Turnberry's Ailsa Course and other Scottish legends, click here.
©2008 David Brice / Golf International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Golf International -- Providers of quality golf travel arrangements since 1988.
Get the best deals on the best equipment all at the SHOP.PGATOUR.COM.
A TPC is Near You
The PGA TOUR's TPC Network comprises 28 premier properties designed by elite architects.
Take off to Portugal
Given the choice of shoveling snow or playing golf in the sun, which would you choose?
PGATOUR.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network