With eight holes set against the dunes and tall, craggy cliffs of western Scotland’s Ayrshire Coast, the Westin Turnberry’s Ailsa Course is one of the most ravishingly beautiful and challenging links in the world and the best course to play on a Scotland golf vacation.
The so-called “Pebble Beach of Scotland,” which has hosted the British Open three times (and will again in 2009) looks out on its namesake Ailsa Craig, a massive, granite dome that thrusts up out of the sea.
Play begins with three parallel holes, easing players into the atmosphere of links golf. Then, the routing turns absolutely sublime with an unequaled stretch of holes tracing the outline of the sea along the soaring cliffs. Any of these holes could easily be the signature hole at most courses.
These stunning holes certainly make Ailsa a fantastic course. But what makes it one of the world’s best is its playability. Like Augusta National and Pinehurst No.2, it manages the seemingly impossible feat of balancing forgiveness with scoring resistance.
High handicappers can enjoy the course because its generous fairways a few forced carries help keep the ball in play. However, wind, fast greens and bunkers mean low handicappers have to play their best to score well. On the first day of Greg Norman’s 1986 British Open victory, not a single player broke par.
By the time one reaches the 11th hole, Ailsa changes character completely as play heads inland…and straight into the teeth of the wind. But at Turnberry, it doesn’t matter whether the links bask in the lovliest summer sunshine or rage in a seaside tempest. This course is so good, so beautiful and so rich in history that any round will produce lifelong memories.
Not already a subscriber to Golf Vacation Insider? Click here to receive our free newsletter filled with insider travel tips on the world's finest golf courses and resorts. As a bonus, we will send you a free copy of Planning the Ultimate Golf Vacation, a 40-page book filled with insider tips from the editors of Golf Odyssey.
