Beauty and the ‘Beast’
Posted: 12 July 2009
Former open Champion Ernie Els and past Order of Merit winner, Colin Montgomerie have warned that although the Ailsa course at Turnberry is without doubt one of the most beautiful courses in the world, it could be “a beast” at The Open Championship this week.
The Ailsa course curves around the rugged Ayrshire coast and nearly half of the holes are positioned along a section of the Irish Sea known as the Firth of Clyde.
A 100-foot lighthouse, built in 1873, sits off the ninth fairway, not far from what remains of a castle inhabited by Robert the Bruce, king of Scotland in the early 14th century, while jutting 11 miles out to sea is the Ailsa Craig, a granite dome whose summit rises 1,000 feet from the water. The locals say that if you can’t see the Ailsa Craig, then it’s raining; and if you can see it, then it’s about to rain.
“It’s a tremendous golf course,” said Ryder Cup captain Montgomerie. “It’s a golf course I think we all would agree has the most character of any links course in Britain, especially on our rota. Just a fantastic place to be.”
However, a number of enhancements have been made to sharpen the teeth of the renowned course following significant investment by Dubai-based owners Leisurecorp which took possession of the famous resort in November 2008.
The par 70 course has been stretched to 7,204 yards for The Open, with 247 yards added since Zimbabwe’s Nick Price last lifted the Claret Jug at Turnberry in 1994. In addition, six tees and 21 new bunkers will provide a number of fresh challenges, particularly for the game’s big hitters.
Ernie Els, champion in 2002, was at Turnberry recently for a practice session and was surprised at how thick the grass was, especially outside the fairways.
“I was at Turnberry for two days and that could be quite a beast if the wind comes up,” said the South African.
“The rough is very high and very lush. They must have had a lot of rain there. It’s like they put steroids in the grass. You need to strike the ball well.
“We played it with a northerly so the front nine was into the wind and that forces you to play a long club off the tee. And if you have downwind holes, you want to try to make birdies and really survive in the wind.”
Montgomerie agreed that Turnberry is “hugely different” from 15 years ago. His academy is located at the picturesque resort, which has also undergone a complete refurbishment to its famous white-washed hotel following the multi-million pound investment by Leisurecorp, and the Scot is a frequent visitor.
Earlier this month, he said the club had a stroke-play competition for Turnberry members, allowing 150 of its best players on the Ailsa course.
“They had a medal there for the members two weeks ago and the 150 starters left 480 golf balls on the golf course. That’s over three a player they have lost. Although the fairways were generous, that proves you have to avoid the rough at all costs.”
The Ailsa course has previously staged the world’s oldest open championship on three occasions and was the scene for Price’s dramatic eagle putt on route to victory in 1994, Greg Norman’s taming of gale force winds in 1986, and perhaps the most dramatic of all Open Championships when Tom Watson pipped Jack Nicklaus to the post in 1977’s legendary “Duel in the Sun’.
Turnberry has always been a favourite of The R&A’s chief executive, Peter Dawson, and following significant investment by local authorities in surrounding road infrastructure, he had no hesitation in agreeing its return to the prestigious staging rota.
“It’s a scenically stunning course,” Dawson said. “At the same time, it’s a great test of golf.”
