[Evan_Green]

Here are some photos from Turnberry. I hope this brings back good memories for those of you that have visited there. For the rest, I hope it shows why every golfer should go there at least once.

KINTYRE COURSE:


Neat bunkering by Donald Steel. Notice the Ailsa Craig in the distance behind the pin.


One of the two gorgeous seaside holes on the course. They are probably better to look at than great golf holes, but they sure are spectacular!


Hard to beat the views

AILSA COURSE

Turnberry Hotel at about 4:45 am. It was the first day of my trip. I was totally jetlagged and couldn't sleep, so I decided to walk the course at dawn, which turned out to be a mystical experience.


The beach and the Ailsa Craig right after dawn as viewed from Hole 4(?) on the Ailsa course. How cool is that?




A rare moment: To be able to see the lighthouse, yet the light still to be shining...The 8th Green of Ailsa in the foreground...


A closer view of the lighthouse.


View from the 9th tee.


The 9th tee.

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Bunkers on #2 (or is it #3?)


Par 3, #4


Closer up on #4. How did his ball stay out of the bunker?


Green complex at #5. Great stuff.


The stout long par 3 #6


Looking back from the obelisk to the 9th tee. Ailsa Craig in the distance.


Bruce's Castle and the Lighthouse


My favorite hole on the course, #10


Shoreline of the 10th hole.


The scenery on the Ailsa course is hard to argue with...




"Island" bunker in front of #10


11th tee in the distance.


Looking back to the lighthouse from #10 green/11 tee




WWII airstrip


#15 is a fantastic par 3.


Slicing off of 15 tee is not recommended.


16th Green and Burn


#17 is a neat par 5.


Home hole. The sense of history on this hole is overwhelming. To think the climax of Watson and Nicklaus' duel happened right here...


My pal insisted that he play #18 from this "tiger tee" at the end of our 2nd 18. Dont be surprised if the pros tee off somewhere back here in 2009.

I will never forget our couple of days at Turnberry. I loved it. I just hope the character of the course isnt changed permenantly by modifications for the 2009 Open.

[Richard Muldoon]

Lovely pictures Evan.
If you're playing towards the lighthouse those bunkers must be on the 2nd. Funny, I don't remember that many bunkers on the 2nd.
 

[Richard Muldoon]

Sean,
you'll see I adjusted my post very quickly as I realised my mistake, but not very well.
I'm not good on Monday mornings.

[Andrew Mitchell]

Evan

Great pictures - I'm playing both the Ailsa and the Kintyre on a two day package in October so your photos have certainly whetted my appetite!

[Jason Topp]

I particularly appreciate the early morning pictures.  

I did the same thing in 1992 my first night at St. Andrews.  I walked the Old Course at around 4:30 am in bright early morning sunshine. I will never forget the view in the morning light, the feel of the firm turf and the anticipation of playing there that week with my father.  

[Evan_Green]

Yes Jason - that is a must do if one goes over there. It's an amazing feeling to be out there alone that early in the morning. I didnt see another person until I got back to the clubhouse where I saw a lone greenskeeper. What an experience.

[Darren_Kilfara]

For what it's worth, I played Turnberry last year for the first time, and it hugely exceeded my expectations. I'd been expecting a resort-quality course with a few famous holes, which is sort of what I remember from television. Instead, I found a course with a large stack of memorable holes - my favorites are #5, #8, #10 and #15, but in truth all of the par 3s are very good, and only the opening few holes seemed really uninspired. (#9 is also overrated because of the lighthouse and the seaside tee, but it's still a good hole; #18 is also a fairly bland finisher.) The real surprise was the sweep and variety of terrain, particularly by the sea; #10 is a great downhill hole, but is there a links course in the world with a better set of uphill holes?

Cheers,
Darren

[Kyle Harris]

Great pictures.

Coincidentally, Ailsa Crag is noted in another game of Scottish origin....

All Olympic curling stones are from the granite on Ailsa Crag and each can cost upwards of $1500.

[Andy Scanlon]

Evan:

Wonderful photos.  I am playing the Ailsa in October (first trip to Scotland!) and your photos have certainly whetted my appetite.

[Mark_Fine]

I have a scorecard from one of my trips there framed on my wall.  The Ailsa Course has always been one of my favorites anywhere in the world.  I'm heading back over to Scotland in two months (we'll be on the east side) and thought twice about extending the trip to play there again.  Great photos.

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