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The Ailsa | Open Championship Venue

Hole 18 | "Duel In The Sun"

Par 4 | 461 Yards

Ailsa's finishing hole was renamed in honour of the 1977 Open Championship, regarded by many as the finest major championship ever played. With three bunkers on left side of the fairway, a good tee shot down the right-hand side is required; however, go too far right and the gorse will be waiting for you. The approach shot should be aimed for the right half of the green, as there is an incline on the left that may leave a tricky chip from a valley of rough.

Perfect Play

A good tee shot is imperative at this final hole. Three serious fairway bunkers wait on the left hand side of the fairway for anyone who guards against the rough and gorse bushes that are visible from the tee on the right hand side. A drive down the right half of this fairway is required. The approach shot with a mid iron should be aimed at the right half of this green as a shot coming up short will tend to be thrown to the left of this slightly elevated green leaving not and easy chip shot. Once on the green it is relatively flat but it is easy to be caught out as there are many subtle undulations on this final green.

Flyover Video

How to Play "The Watson Shot"

July 2009. Legendary golfer Tom Watson stood over a putt on the 18th hole of The Ailsa, named after that famous Duel in the Sun in 1977. Watson was wining, his ball 8ft from the hole. If he sank the putt, he would have completed one of the most extraordinary of sporting achievements. Here is how Watson played the shot and an alternative way of playing it as demonstrated by a Turnberry golf professional.

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