Going for Golf

Ayrshire prepares to welcome the world

Turnberry

When it comes to Open Championship venues, the east edges it three to two, with St Andrews, Carnoustie and Muirfield outnumbering Turnberry and Troon. If Prestwick were still on the roster, it would be a three-all draw but it hasn’t hosted the Open since 1925. Despite that, however, it has still witnessed more Open Championships than any other course except the Old Lady herself, St Andrews.

With golf’s greatest event returning to Turnberry in July after a 15-year hiatus, the eyes of the golf world will again be focused on Ayrshire. South of Glasgow, and with a rugged coastline that often appears to be an unbroken string of courses (there are more than 100), it is about as close to paradise as you are likely to reach on earth.

Although the famous Ailsa course at Turnberry had been closed since last autumn for remedial work and a number of significant alterations, I was allowed to walk the course. Before I placed my feet on its hallowed turf, I asked head professional Richard Hall what were the most significant changes.

“The par-five 17th used to be a little weak. It was less than 500 yards off the championship tees. The new tees have added 61 yards and there are new approach and greenside bunkers that make it a much tougher hole.

“The other huge alteration is the construction of a spectacular new tee at the 10th. It’ll be interesting to see if the guys take on the three new fairway bunkers which require a carry not far short of 300 yards.”

Standing on the that tee which, thankfully, is only used in championships, all you can see are rocks and crashing waves. The thought of trying to hit a ball onto the distant fairway is less than irresistibly appealing for those not on the Tour. Intimidating carries and bottomless bunkers apart, the course is extraordinarily beautiful, with towering dunes, springy turf and heaps of history.

Who will lift the claret jug this year? The previous three Turnberry Opens, in 1977, 1986 and 1994, were won by Tom Watson, Greg Norman and Nick Price, each of whom was number one in the world at the time of his triumph. No one needs reminding who is number one now.

Next door to the Ailsa is the less frightening Kintyre. Far from a pushover, it has hosted the Scottish Amateur Strokeplay Championship and was a final qualifying course for the 2004 Open along the coast at Royal Troon.

Although it begins gently, with several sheltered holes that have an almost parkland feel, by the eighth it changes dramatically, with welcome sea views and tougher terrain. Relief, however, is not far away as you soon drop back downhill and alongside what’s left of the wartime airfield for the closing holes that weave through the gorse.