Trump Turnberry (Ailsa)

Overview: At Trump Turnberry (Ailsa), the links profile for Trump Turnberry (Ailsa) is listed at 7489 yards and par 71. The routing uses rocky shoreline, dunes, hillocks and natural valleys to create a dramatic but highly strategic round. Several holes run close to the sea, while others turn inland through more sheltered ground before returning to the coast. The lighthouse and the outline of Ailsa Craig give the course an unusually strong visual identity, but the golf is driven by wind, firm turf, uneven lies and the need to choose the correct side of a fairway for the next shot.

History: Turnberry’s first man-made links were designed by Willie Fernie and opened for play in 1901. After severe wartime damage, Philip Mackenzie Ross rebuilt the Ailsa Course in the post-war period, using the available dunes and coastline to create the layout that became an Open Championship classic. Martin Ebert later undertook substantial revisions, including the work completed before the 2009 Open and a broader modernisation that respected Ross’s legacy. The Ailsa has hosted four Opens, including the famous 1977 Duel in the Sun between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus.

Did You Know? The course is named after Ailsa Craig, the distinctive island visible across the Firth of Clyde. On clear days the island, lighthouse and coastline form a natural sequence of landmarks around the round.