Unfortunately the weather is so bad that instead of taking the 40-minute Kintyre Express ferry over to Turnberry, it’s the long route round and a three-hour journey by road. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful journey to take, or so I am told – I’m actually asleep on the floor of our mini-bus! Well what’s a golf tour without a couple of very late night drinking sessions? We hit Turnberry in a 30mph wind with no let up in the rain, but if you think that’s going to deter me you’re very much mistaken. After a hearty meal it’s waterproofs on and I’m off to take on this legend.
The first course at Turnberry was designed by Willie Fernie and opened for play in 1901. There had been several attempts to build a golf course on these links, but those had been turned down. But worse things were to beset Turnberry and during both world wars the links were turned into airfields and some feared they would never see golf played here again. After the First World War the damage was repaired and a redesign by James Braid took place. Not only was Turnberry restored but improved upon. But war was to strike again and this time tonnes of concrete covered the fairways. Like a phoenix from the ashes Turnberry wouldn’t just lie down and die. The golfing gods surely smile down on this part of Scotland, because once again Turnberry was to receive a reprieve.
Top: The new 11th green. Above LtoR: 5th, The iconic Turnberry Lighthouse, 12th green
Mackenzie Ross not only resurrected this great links but took it to another level, and as Gary Player was to later proclaim, “The Ailsa course is the best golf course in Great Britain.” Who am I to argue? I just want to get out and play it no matter what the weather. Sometimes in life you’re let down by so much hype, but not this time. Apart from one of the best designed courses in the world, add in the Ailsa Craig, the lighthouse, the Isle of Arran, the Mull of Kintyre and memories of the ‘Duel in the Sun’ and Watson again nearly winning the open aged 59 in 2009. It’s like walking in the footsteps of legends. My heart beats faster, the rain is hitting my face like acupuncture needles, the heavens have decided to open the floodgates and I’m grinning from ear to ear like some lunatic escaped from the asylum.
To say I love every minute, every shot, every blade of grass, lost ball, wet grip, damp feet, leaking waterproofs, would be an understatement, I would do it all again, in the same conditions. Yes, it’s another stamp on my pilgrim’s book – but it was so much more than that.
