With ownership changes and the Open Championship afoot, carefully plan your Scotland golf vacation to the Westin Turnberry Resort.
The 2008 British Open at Royal Birkdale is nearly upon us, and even though it will be Tiger-less, we are getting excited for what is considered the most important golf tournament in the world.
Today, however, we’d like to call your attention to next year’s Open Championship site, the Ailsa course at the Westin Turnberry Resort, in case you’re thinking about playing it on a Scotland golf vacation.
If you’ve been reading our golf vacation tips for awhile, you know we highly recommend playing the Ailsa Course on a Scotland golf vacation. It is scenic, offers hole after hole of fantastic golf, and brings with it a sense of history. Indeed, 2009 marks the fourth time Ailsa will host the Open Championship.
Unfortunately, we can’t say the same thing for the overall golf vacation experience at the Westin Turnberry Resort, at least not at the present time. Unlike most other courses on the Open Championship rotation, Turberry’s two layouts (Ailsa and Kintyre) are part of a large resort that caters to corporate groups and seems primarily interested in maximizing rounds played. In season, it’s generally crowded and the pace of play can be irritatingly slow.
On the first day of our most recent visit to the Westin Turnberry Resort, we were backed up on the Ailsa course from the very first hole. It happens. We understand. What really bothered us was that we observed no attempts by the staff to speed up play.
As for the rooms at the Westin Turnberry Resort, make sure you get a forward-facing, ocean-view room if you opt for the Classic Single category on your Scotland golf vacation. Ours, number 241, was small to the point of being cramped, grew hot due to the lack of air-conditioning, and had just one tiny window that, when opened, seemed to let in more noise and commotion from the back of the hotel than the fresh air we were seeking.
We have since learned that Leisurecorp, a unit of state-owned investment group Dubai World, has entered into an agreement to purchase the Westin Turnberry Resort (management will remain with Starwood). Potentially very good news, but the hotel is due to close later this year for refurbishment prior to the 2009 Open. So, if playing and staying at Turnberry is on your Scotland golf vacation list, you may want to wait until after the Open has closed.
Our complete, in-depth report on the Westin Turnberry Resort, which includes advice on playing both of its courses (and nearby Royal Troon), additional lodging options on and off-site, and excellent dining recommendations, was recently published in the July issue of our flagship publication, Golf Odyssey.
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