Two days of touring Turnberry and Portrush renovations

[David Davis]

This last week I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to spend a few days with Martin Ebert in the field touring Turnberry and Portrush looking at the changes, icing on the cake was getting to play both courses which I had not initially expected. I have to admit to not being a huge fan of the old Turnberry but the renovation is simply fantastic and it certainly delivers the eye candy that the retail golf world eats up. I'd say every hole that was either changed or created has really significantly improved the course, the shaping is awesome. One aspect of the renovation there that I find interesting is the contrasting bunker styles. The mix between the greenside revetted style and the rough natural looking fairway bunkers.
































I found it interesting that this is a theme that repeats itself at Royal Portrush. Though I don't have as many photos since I was running into camera issues. What does everything think of the contrasting styles in the same course?














The new holes at Portrush are almost completely grown in and in my mind represent a huge improvement to arguably the least spectacular holes on the course. I think the current 17th and 18th are good holes only occupying less spectacular ground. There is no doubt for me that the new holes represent excellent changes to an already amazing course.

[David Davis]

We certainly didn't end up with excellent weather for taking photos and the light was perhaps even worse but here are a few shots of some of the new holes. Probably the best I could do with my iPhone in the light I was given.

[David Davis]

The new 7th and 8th at Portrush.

[David Davis]

Finally with the changes to the Kintyre course well underway there was ample time to walk around in the dirt. It's always impressive to see the detail to which these teams work. Discussions of centimeter changes to internal green contours, positions of tee boxes and fairway undulations.


However, the changes to holes 7 through 11 will make for some excellent holes once again maximizing Turnberry's ever present eye candy and making the Kintyre a far more memorable game.


Dune being created on 7 to block out the view of the retirement home. Trees will most likely be planted to finalize the hole as a rather enormous amount of ground would have to be brought in to finish this job.







Tee box of #8









Green of 8














Future fairway of 9 green ending along the cliffs












New Par 3 10th









New tee box and fairway from the par 5 11th.







A look at some of the irrigation work, interesting to note the land is far from true links land and while there is a mix of dirt and some sand, there is very little sand and nearly solid rock which greatly inhibits the ability to shape.

[Thomas Dai]

Thanks for this update David.
I like your use of the phrase "delivers the eye candy the retail golf world eats up" in relation to T'berry.
The new 7th and 8th at RP look appealing. Some nice long rough I see.
Atb

[David Davis]

Thomas,


We spoke of the rough there, it's seriously like more than waste deep and thick enough to make you struggle to walk through it. The holes are a long way from opening so that is something the club will have to manage I'm guessing. Cut, thin it out, cut again etc. However, to be fair as others have mentioned this year has been extremely wet and everything is very lush, plus this area has never been maintained in terms of growth I don't think. I'm sure come opening time it will be thinner in the reasonable playing areas.

[Jon Wiggett]

Thanks for the tour David. It is good to hear that Turnberry has got the quality it has always deserved. Nice that the second course is being up graded as well. On the bunker styles, I think it is very difficult to marry the two styles well though it can be done. I do however think the shaggy edge type as shown in your photos is beginning to look a little jaded as so many archies seem to have jumped on the band wagon. Time for someone to come up with a new look maybe.


Jon

[David_Tepper]

Didn't the Kintyre course undergo a major (and successful) renovation within the past 6-8 years?

[David Davis]

David,


I'm not sure to be honest but if it did then the main driver here is Trump trying to make the most of the eye candy and I would say that's being done successfully. Certainly huge investments are being made at Turnberry. Probably in the direction of 250-300 million. Though I have no idea how you can ever even think those are wise investments but hey, they golf is much better for it.

[David_Tepper]

David D. -

The Arran course at Turnberry was changed to the Kintyre course by Donald Steel in 2001. Longer ago than I thought.

http://golfcourseworld.co.uk/coursefinder/uk/scotland/turnberrykintyre.html
 
My recollection is the "new" Kintyre was very well received.  None the less, new brooms sweep clean and we know who swings a big broom these days.

DT
 

[Sean_A]

The Kintyre was a decent course with a few very good holes, but not the sort of course that would lure people away from the Ailsa. If money is spent on the Ailsa it makes sense to upgrade the Kintyre. 


Ciao

[David_Tepper]

"If money is spent on the Ailsa it makes sense to upgrade the Kintyre."

Especially if someone else's money is being spent.    

[Greg Gilson]

David, thanks for the tour. Both courses look great & both seem to have been somewhat to greatly improved by the updates....which is not always a given.

The contrasting bunker styles on Ailsa appear "jarring" to me....but maybe that's just because you asked us to focus on them. Every individual bunker looked lovely on its own - just not sure how they all fit together side by side. From memory this is always mentioned as an issue at NSWGC where revetted bunkers now co-exist with frilly free form ones?

The new holes at RP look narrow or is that just because the rough looks so high?!?

[David Davis]

Greg,


The rough there was super high yes but as mentioned it will take a while before the holes open. In terms of how narrow the hole feels. I think it's pretty much in line with the rest of the holes and the fact I'm using an iPhone to take my photos makes it look even more narrow than it actually is. I had the feeling they were not close to the narrowest holes at Portrush to be honest. I think 9 was the par 5 that's played right after those two new holes and I found the drive really narrow to the point I was hitting 3 wood. there was a much winder area if you could carry your driver about 250+ on the day but it was against the wind and the landing area was blind so I wasn't feeling it given it was only my second round there and first one in the last 8 years.


I would say the course is tough but fair. It's not Castle Stuart in terms of width and this year the rough is extremely lush at most the links I've played in the summer.

[Niall C]

Re Turnberry - I've now spoken to quite a few who have played Turnberry and all speak very well of the new course with barely a bad comment other than the ridiculous paths. As for the Kintyre, as Sean says, most visitors aren't really interested as they are there to play the main event while locals generally thought it OK if a bit uneven with most that I know preferring the older holes. Hopefully any changes will make it hang together better.


Niall

[Thomas Dai]

Re Turnberry - I've now spoken to quite a few who have played Turnberry and all speak very well of the new course with barely a bad comment other than the ridiculous paths.
Niall

Would these paths happen to be rye grass with sprinklers at regular intervals by any chance?


If so that's exactly like Ballybunion Old and I when I was there a few months ago I thought the paths at BBO were vile and totally out of character with a links course.....but maybe given time paths like these will become the norm on links courses and thus 'in character', what a ghastly thought.


atb

[David Davis]

Thomas/Niall,


Yes the paths are Rye grass and are very green. I made the comment while walking around that I found them a consideration given the amount of water etc that had to be used there. The response was the Rye is very tough and can take the kind of daily wear and tear from constant greenfee players + members like these courses get. It's also a lot better looking than cart paths which is the obvious alternative if you want to keep all golfers coming. I mean seriously can you guys imagine Trump getting out there and walking? (ok, that's a joke and I have no idea whether he would walk or ride and I don't care either). The point is all things being equal, the Rye grass is much better than cement or "golden shiny" brick or stone. I imagine that was the alternative.

[Niall C]

Atb/David


I was thinking about the grass so much as I'd heard that like Balmedie, the paths had been rebuilt to be straighter, broader and with less undulations to make it easier to walk and allow 4 players to walk abreast or to allow for carts.


Niall

[Thomas Dai]

David and Neill,
Thanks for the further explanation. Still 'no-like' though. Not a good trend imo.
Atb

[Tom_Doak]

Yes the paths are Rye grass and are very green. I made the comment while walking around that I found them a consideration given the amount of water etc that had to be used there. The response was the Rye is very tough and can take the kind of daily wear and tear from constant greenfee players + members like these courses get. It's also a lot better looking than cart paths which is the obvious alternative if you want to keep all golfers coming. I mean seriously can you guys imagine Trump getting out there and walking? (ok, that's a joke and I have no idea whether he would walk or ride and I don't care either). The point is all things being equal, the Rye grass is much better than cement or "golden shiny" brick or stone. I imagine that was the alternative.

Are buggies being used at Turnberry?  Is this a new development or has it been happening for years?

[David Davis]

Tom,


I walked when I played but the last day on my way home from Portrush I was only to be there for about 2 hours and wanted to go back through everything again and yes they seem to have a fleet of buggies (maybe it's small?) but I was able to take one out. I did see a couple others in the course when I was playing. It could very well be that like most of Europe they are allowed for people with official disabilities. That's as much as I can tell you for sure though I know that doesn't perfectly answer the question.

[Jeff Doerr]

Hi David,


In looking at the images, it looks like 8 and 9 will be really great holes. I'm a bit confused by the routing for 10. Does it go from ocean back inland to get to the new 11th tee?


Also, is the old 8th green site used for the 9th green, or abandoned?




Thanks, Jeff

Finally with the changes to the Kintyre course well underway there was ample time to walk around in the dirt. It's always impressive to see the detail to which these teams work. Discussions of centimeter changes to internal green contours, positions of tee boxes and fairway undulations.


However, the changes to holes 7 through 11 will make for some excellent holes once again maximizing Turnberry's ever present eye candy and making the Kintyre a far more memorable game.


Dune being created on 7 to block out the view of the retirement home. Trees will most likely be planted to finalize the hole as a rather enormous amount of ground would have to be brought in to finish this job.







Tee box of #8









Green of 8














Future fairway of 9 green ending along the cliffs












New Par 3 10th









New tee box and fairway from the par 5 11th.







A look at some of the irrigation work, interesting to note the land is far from true links land and while there is a mix of dirt and some sand, there is very little sand and nearly solid rock which greatly inhibits the ability to shape.

[Duncan Cheslett]

I'm impressed that the retirement home has been screened with a new dune and some trees.


Trump is clearly softening. I would have expected him to buy the place and demolish it.