Turnberry to host The 138th Open Championship
Posted: 15 October 2008
[Turnberry, Scotland] Leisurecorp and Starwood are pleased to announce that Turnberry will host the 138th Open Championship from 16 – 19 July 2009. The Open Championship is one of the four major golf championships, and the Claret Jug that is presented to the winner is often considered golf’s greatest prize.
Both the Ailsa course and Turnberry Resort will be revitalised to better serve both players and spectators. The Ailsa course, on which the 1977, 1986 and 1994 Opens were played, will be extended to more than 7,200 yards, though the final yardage for the 2009 Championship is yet to be determined. In addition, 20 new bunkers have been added in order to tighten up the course.
Internationally known interior designer Mary Fox Linton has been appointed to lead the resort renovation. The 103-year-old hotel will be restored to the vision of its original architect while accommodating the needs of modern guests.
Turnberry looks forward to welcoming the world’s top players and their fans to this historic event.
About Leisurecorp
Leisurecorp was set up by Dubai World in July 2006 to acquire, develop and manage a wide-ranging portfolio of investments in sport and leisure in Dubai and around the world. In just two years, it has become a powerful new force in world golf. Its portfolio includes Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai’s most prestigious residential golf community; Turnberry, one of Scotland’s premier golf resorts and host of The Open Championship 2009; Pearl Valley Golf Estates, South Africa’s leading residential golf community, which is set to host the South African Open for the next two years; a stake in Troon Golf, the world’s leading luxury-brand golf management, development and marketing company; and GPS Industries, which provides GPS-enabled technologies for the golf industry. For more information, please visit www.leisurecorp.com.
About Starwood
Bringing together the world’s best names in hotels and resorts, Starwood brands include Le Meridien®, Four Points® by Sheraton® Hotels, Westin Hotels & Resorts®, The Luxury Collection® aloftsm hotels, Sheraton® Hotels & Resorts, elementsm hotels, St. Regis® Hotels & Resorts and W Hotels®. To learn more about Starwood, visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
