Trump Turnberry

Trump's version is held unanimously as the best yet.

Trump Turnberry

Ayrshire, KA26 9LT, Scotland

Overview

Turnberry was the world's first purpose-built golf resort! Similar to the New, Jubilee, and even the Eden at St Andrews, Trump Turnberry King Robert The Bruce will never attain the recognition it should. Due to a recent overhaul, the second course at Turnberry no longer plays second fiddle. However, such is the fate of lying beside what is considered one of the greatest links in all of golf, The Ailsa!

The Ailsa is most famous for the 1977 'Duel in the Sun' between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson.

On the site of the famous lighthouse are found the ruins of Turnberry Castle. Here, Robert the Bruce was born in 1274. He led Scotland to become an independent country at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

Jasper’s Lessons Learnt

Turnberry is great golf - in fact one of the best links in the world.  However, to achieve the stature of The Old Course, Cypress Point, Muirfield, Royal Melbourne, Royal County Down, Royal Dornoch and only a handful of others it needs to be virtually perfect. I'll detail here why I feel it is still reaching for that echelon. I guess I am justified in my thoughts as recently it was confirmed Martin Ebert will return to make more changes - in particular a green site on the seaside for the 7th.

Please temper the following comments with a pinch of salt. I am comparing what are two of the world's best golf courses, Trump Turnberry and Cypress Point Club. The difference between a top 5 and top 20 golf course is razor thin but it is discernible if you've seen both.

For a golf course to be truly great, it needs to more than a string of epic holes. The stretch from 8-11 is spectacular and will win the votes of those who have never seen Cypress Point's stretch from 14-17.

Holes 13 and 14 feel like an attempt to acquire 977 yards to bump the Open rota tees to 7501 yards. It would take a lot to convince someone that turn inland at Trump Turnberry was better than Holes 10 & 11 at Cypress Point Club.

At Trump Turnberry, five of the first seven holes play inland followed by the final seven. It felt like I was playing golf to get to the lighthouse then had to play golf to get back to the clubhouse. In contrast, the inland holes at Cypress Point are astonishingly good. Holes 2-13 at Cypress Point are some of the best inland holes anywhere in the world. Never once do you feel like you're playing good golf to eventually get to the great stuff.

Course Review
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Videos
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Golf Course Review

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Golf.com World Ranking
Ranked
17/100
in the world
Golf.com World Ranking
Ranked
4/100
in GB&I

Trump Turnberry - Videos


View the changes at trump turnberry ailsa course

Watch the Average Golfer's review of Trump turnberry Ailsa

Watch: Scotland - Where Golf Began's Expose on Turnberry Golf Club

Featured Architect: MacKenzie, Alister

As taken from his book, Golf Architecture, Alister MacKenzie felt the following were essential: The course, where possible, should be arranged in two loops of nine holes. There should be a large proportion of good two-shot holes and at least four one-shot holes. There should be little walking between...

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At A Glance

Architects

  • Weir, Alexander Neish
  • Fernie, Willie
  • Hutchison, Major Cecil Key (CK)
  • Ross, Philip MacKenzie
  • Ebert, Martin

Facilities

Moderate
Dog Friendly
Trolleys
Caddies
Resort
Fine
Driving Range
Short Game

Collections

Two Star Collection
Best Scottish Golf Collection
Doak Scale Collection
GOLF Top 100 Golf Courses in the World

Contact Details

Ayrshire, KA26 9LT, Scotland
Visit Club Website

Location

Girvan
8°C
Moderate rain

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