Proposals for the Ailsa Course at Trump Turnberry Booklet 2015

“Turnberry sits alone amongst all ten
courses on the Open rota in having
a coastline and beachscape which
actually provide a hazard to the play
of the course.”

It was Turnberry’s greatest hour with the excitement exceeding
any script that could have been written. There was an almost
fictional touch about the climax as Watson came to the final hole
one stroke ahead of Nicklaus. He hit the ideal iron to the corner of
the dog-leg whereas Nicklaus’ tee shot drifted towards the gorse.
On first inspection, it didn’t seem possible that Nicklaus could
manufacture any kind of shot. When Watson, playing his second, hit
a seven iron which sat down two feet from the hole, it seemed to be
that. However, Nicklaus, somehow, managed to catch an eight iron
squarely enough to get his ball to the edge of the green - whereupon
he holed it for a three.
Watson’s putt, which minutes before had looked no more than a
formality, suddenly took on a new dimension but it really was short
and, in order to maintain the pattern of perfection, it was right that
Watson knocked it firmly home. What happened in that Open took
a long time to sink in and the superlatives about it have continued
to flow.
The filmed version has been shown more times than Gone With the
Wind. As an exhibition of superb strokeplay, courage and character,
it may never be equalled. As an example of all that is good in the
game it was a lesson to other sports.
Although the golfing merits of Turnberry had been known to a
national audience for many years, the Open of 1977 took the links
onto the global stage. Hours of television coverage and acres of
newsprint put Turnberry firmly on the itinerary of any golfer worth
his or her salt. After all, who wouldn’t want to play the course that
had so enthralled the world and brought the very best out of two
legends in the game.

Card of the Course
Hole Maximum Open Championship Open Par Tournament Trophy Par Ladies’
Ladies’
Par
1 426 404 4 390 385 4 370 4
2 428 428 4 379 368 4 358 4
3 497 497 4 393 386 4 380 5
4 196 196 3 185 150 3 145 3
5 526 498 4 526 500 5 405 5
6 172 155 3 150 145 3 110 3
7 569 569 5 500 490 5 417 5
8 471 471 4 432 365 4 391 5
9 235 235 3 205 170 3 160 3
Out 3520 3453 34 3160 2959 35 2736 37
10 562 562 5 495 490 5 435 5
11 215 192 3 180 175 3 135 3
12 484 484 4 388 377 4 354 4
13 410 410 4 380 344 4 330 4
14 565 565 5 520 510 5 475 5
15 233 233 3 183 170 3 162 3
16 476 476 4 422 385 4 377 4
17 505 499 4 475 435 4 395 5
8
15
9
18 483 483 4 460 405 4 370 4
In 3933 3904 36 3503 3291 36 3033 37
Out 3520 3453 34 3160 2959 35 2736 37
14
Total 7453 7357 70 6663 6250 71 5769 74
Existing 7204 70 6493 6100 69 5802 75
6
7
16
The Ailsa
10
4 5
3
17
13
12
11
1
2
18

Royal St. George’s
Royal Troon
Royal Lytham and St. Annes
Royal Portrush