Turnberry Resort- Robert The Bruce- hole 9 aerialTurnberry Resort- Robert The Bruce- hole 9 aerial

 

History

 

The ruins of Turnberry Castle surround the iconic lighthouse that identifies Turnberry instantly.

The lighthouse was built by the family of author Robert Louis Stevenson.

Turnberry Castle is renowned as the birthplace of King Robert The Bruce who led Scotland to independence in 1314, so Robert The Bruce seemed an appropriate name for the new course.

The original course at Turnberry as we know it was built by Royal Troon professional Willie Fernie and opened in 1906 (although it was generally thought that The Marquis of Ailsa had laid out a links himself in the area previously)

By 1909 a ladies 9 hole course was added, and over the years this evolved to become the 18 hole Arran course.

Turnberry was badly treated by both world wars, with areas of the courses flattened to make aircraft landing strips in World War 2.

But thanks to the work of Philip MacKenzie Ross both courses were restored and the Ailsa course went on to host the Open Championship in 1977 (and 3 times since)

The Arran course was renamed The Kintyre course

 

Turnberry Resort- Robert The Bruce- hole 3Turnberry Resort- Robert The Bruce- hole 3

 

When Donald Trump bought Turnberry Resort he commissioned architects MacKenzie Ebert to rework the Ailsa course.

In my opinion that effort has propelled the Ailsa course to one of the best 10 courses on the planet!

Mackenzie Ebert were then asked back to build a new sister course to the Ailsa.

Robert The Bruce was completed in 2016 basically in the footprint of the former Arran/Kintyre courses- but it is a much improved course

 

 

Course

 

 

There are two distinct parts to the course- most of which (hole 1-7, and 12-18) is set in predominantly flattish farmland.

Here Ebert and team have reworked the green structures adding a little more movement and introducing some impresseive sand face bunkering.

These holes look good and are strategically strong.

 

However it is holes 8-11 that you will remember!

After hole 7 the course heads up onto a higher dunes surrounded by coastline.

This part of the course is certainly picturesque, but also offers some exhilarating golf.

There are stunning views of Turnberry's coastline, the famous lighthouse, castle ruins, Ailsa course & Ailsa Crag.. 

 

Notable holes include:

 

hole 8- a long par 4 which heads directly toward the shore, with Ailsa Crag and Turnberry lighthouse as outstanding backdrops

 

Turnberry Resort- Robert The Bruce- hole 8 greenTurnberry Resort- Robert The Bruce- hole 8 green

 

hole 9- a shorter par 4 right along the cliff tops with a spectacular but difficult green setting on a cliff top promontory

 

Turnberry Resort- Robert The Bruce- 9th green & seaTurnberry Resort- Robert The Bruce- 9th green & sea

Turnberry resort- Robert The Bruce- hole 9 back aerial.JPGTurnberry resort- Robert The Bruce- hole 9 back aerial

 

 

hole 10- a lovely par 3 with elevated tees on the cliffs

 

Turnberry Resort- Robert The Bruce- hole 10Turnberry Resort- Robert The Bruce- hole 10

 

hole 11- a long par 5 running in parallel with hole 8, sharing the same wonderful backdrops

 

 

Robert the Bruce is a quality design, and a pleasure to play- with a few moments of sheer exhilaration along the way…

 

Golf Tours

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