Named after the Marquess of Ailsa, the par-71 6774 yard Turnberry Ailsa course has hosted four extraordinary Championships so far, most recently in 2009, and is part of the AA 5 Red Star Trump Turnberry Resort. It first came to international prominence thanks to that famous “Duel in the Sun” between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson during the 1977 Open Championship. Set atop a stony ridge, right on the edge of the sea, it’s a visually-rich dramatic challenge of a course.
Twice in the last Century has the very existence of Ailsa golf course been under threat. During the First and Second World Wars, the courses were dug up to make way for an airbase – landing strips are still visible today. It’s current layout is the work of world renowned golf architect Mackenzie Ross, and what a majestic job he’s done. The 9th hole is the Ailsa's trademark, where the landmark lighthouse casts shadows over the narrow path to the tee and the drive across the corner of the bay fills players with trepidation.
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.
About The Ailsa - Brief History
- Designed in 1902 by legendary golf course designer Willie Fernie, a hotel followed in 1906
- The course became an air base during both World Wars, and the now-disused runway can still be seen
- During WW2 the hotel was commissioned as a hospital and the course used for RAF training
- A memorial to honour lost airmen on the hill can be found overlooking the 12th green
- The course underwent a name change in 1926 to The Ailsa, a name that remains still today
- Redesigned in 1938 by Major Cecil Hutchison
- After WW2, course designer Mackenzie Ross restored the Ailsa, which re-opened in 1951 as a classic seaside links
- Donald Trump bought the hotel and golf courses in 2014
- The course re-opened ahead of the 2009 Open, after a set of dramatic changes by the renowned architect Martin Ebert of Mackenzie & Ebert
- The Ailsa offers 5 of the world's best par-3s
The Ailsa Scorecard
Click here to view the scorecard
Featured hole – Hole 9
The new 9th hole is your nemesis at Ailsa. This hole is stand-out even amongst the best players in the game and rightly deserving of trepidation! It is an exceptional and awe-inspiring par three where you play right across the bay, actually launching your tee shot over the waves. The 10th hole has also been transformed into one of the planet's finest par fives, a hole which provocatively arcs around the bay, issuing a challenging dare to even the world’s finest golfing talent.
Known for being the most scenic golf course in Scotland
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 Cinc at the 2009 Open, a game that has never since been forgotten.
Ailsa Golf Breaks
The Ailsa awaits you as one of the greatest courses in the world and confidently a legend in its own lifetime, and our Ailsa Golf Vacation Packages provide the perfect way to experience this yourself. Summoning landscape, the thrills of the 4th to 11th holes and fabulous accommodation are all part of the deal. So if you'd like to book a golf break at The Ailsa, we're delighted to oblige, and will happily tailor an experience to meet your exacting requirements. .
Featured Ailsa Golf Package:
St Andrews & West Coast 7 Nights Golf Package – Go big or go home with this unforgettable golfing extravaganza, featuring 7 rounds of Golf at the courses of your choice (including a guaranteed round at the Old Course), and driving range privileges.