Set amongst dunes and the rocky cliffs of the Ayrshire coastline, Turnberry offers breathtaking views from all over the course. In addition to the stunning views the course has a magical feel to it given its proximity to Ailsa Craig. Ailsa Craig is an island that sits 16 kilometers offshore in the outer Firth of Clyde. The island has long been quarried for blue hone granite, which is used to make curling stones. The now uninhabited island was formed from the volcanic plug of an extinct volcano.
Additionally, the course has great non-natural structures that help add to the ambience of the experience. The course is nestled below a massive former air force base that looms in the background of most holes. Additionally, there's a beautiful light house near the 9th green that now also serves as a snack stand for golfers and caddies to refuel.
I only had the chance to play Turnberry once so I probably don't have a really well formed opinion of the course. So instead of trying to sound like a big wig know-it-all like I do in most of my posts, I'm just going to share some visual splendor from the gem that is Turnberry!
Grades (where 1 is significantly below average and 5 is significantly above)
Scenery: 5 stars
Design: 5 stars
Condition: 5 stars
Practice Facilities: 5 stars
Experience: 4 stars
Click here for a more detailed breakdown of how I think about course ratings.
There's really not a single bad thing you can say about the Ailsa course at Turnberry. It is as good as golf gets.
