The history
The Ailsa Course dates back to 1906, first laid out by Willie Fernie, the same architect who shaped parts of neighbouring Royal Troon. Requisitioned as an airfield during the Second World War, it was rebuilt afterward by Mackenzie Ross, whose redesign became the championship course played today. Turnberry has hosted four Open Championships, most famously the 1977 "Duel in the Sun," when Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus pulled clear of the entire field and fought out a final round still regarded as one of the greatest in the tournament's history.
The course and setting
The Ailsa plays as a par 70, stretching close to 7,500 yards from the championship tees, though its reputation rests as much on the setting as the golf. The course runs along Ayrshire's clifftops with the Turnberry lighthouse as its centrepiece and Ailsa Craig, the distinctive granite island the course is named for, sitting out on the horizon. A newer 9th hole, built along the cliff edge near the lighthouse, has quickly become one of the most admired short holes added to any course in recent memory.
Beyond the Ailsa, the resort's King Robert the Bruce Course offers a second, slightly gentler 18 holes for anyone staying longer.
Visiting and staying
Turnberry operates as a full resort rather than just a club, with luxury accommodation and dining that make it a natural choice for a multi-day golf trip rather than a single round tucked into a wider itinerary. Green fees vary by season and sit among the highest in the region, reflecting the resort's world-famous standing, so it's worth checking current rates directly. Package options bundling Turnberry with rounds at Prestwick and Royal Troon, alongside multiple nights at the resort, are available for anyone looking to build a proper trip around these three historic venues.
Why it's worth the extra drive
Turnberry isn't the nearest course to Troon, but it's the one most likely to produce the single photo everyone in your group still talks about years later. That combination of a genuinely demanding championship links and one of the most dramatic settings in world golf makes the extra forty-five minutes an easy call.
Turnberry makes a memorable day trip from Blackrock House, and pairs well with a stop at Culzean Castle or Electric Brae on the way down.
Get in touch for help planning your visit, or
book your stay here.
