Written by Neil White
If anti-Trump protesters had not vandalised the world-renowned Ailsa Course, I might not have played a society knockout at Turnberry’s King Robert The Bruce Course.
But so enamoured was I with the Ailsa’s sibling, that I am now considering taking on all of Alba’s top 100.
All of Turnberry’s pomp is available to players regardless of where they play. They can enjoy the magnificent clubhouse with its memorabilia, giant pro shop, academy, and excellent practice facilities. There is also a lovely short game area beside The Bruce’s first tee. I only wish my deft touch on my warm-up had been repeated when I hit the course.
NOW READ – NCG Top 100s: Trump Turnberry (King Robert the Bruce)
CHECK OUT – NCG Top 100s: Scotland
My host/opponent selected the white tees, prompting the starter to raise his eyebrows almost as high as the peak of his cap. He had already told how Justin Thomas had played the previous year and declined the offer of the black tee that is so far back on the first, it is nearly in Ayr.
Thus, I found myself driving from the same tee as a two-time PGA Championship winner. I suspect he struck it a good deal further than me on an opening par 5 that filters towards a bunker down the right before turning into a green in a gorse-surrounded corner.
The yellow stuff is omnipresent on the Bruce, providing photogenic but deadly borders to most of the holes. But if the gorse doesn’t get you, the sand will – as I proved on the par 3 2nd, watching my ball drift back into a greenside bunker having seemed to be three yards over it.
The undulations around the greens demand a short game better honed than mine, while the borrows on the putting surfaces need a keener eye. The iconic Turnberry lighthouse first appears in the distance on the 3rd hole, a short par 4 lined by gorse. It becomes a consistent feature during the round.
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Acclaimed designer Martin Ebert’s work on the stretch around the middle of the King Robert The Bruce has been outstanding. The best view is from the 8th green, where it appears to stand alongside Ailsa Craig. Sadly, the vista did not inspire me to keep my ball out of a bush to the right of the par-five’s fairway.
The 9th is the most memorable on the course because the approach to the par 4 is over a chasm to what appears to be a slither of green. I went for glory and saw the ball sink down the embankment. Fortunately, I could play it out, but another hole had slipped from my grasp, and I was wilting towards defeat.
The lighthouse provides the backdrop for the final time on the par 5 11th – a cracking dog-leg into a raised green. This section of the course is particularly strong, and the new wetland on the 13th lures balls down the left while two new fairway bunkers gobble them up down the right.
The 15th is another hole that stands out because of the terror at the tee, prompted by an avenue of gorse all the way to the green. My playing partner was a low handicapper with a top-class short game who had given me a glimmer of hope by sinking several balls into bushes. He opened the door on this hole but I failed to take advantage.
Thus, he polished me off on the 16th. I had failed to choose the correct clubs on the par 3 all day and did so again into the wind, watching the ball take the run-off down to the right.
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Hands had been shaken, but two excellent holes remained – the 17th, a dogleg par-four into a fiendishly undulating green and the 18th – a sublime par-five with ten perilous bunkers.
Aptly, my opponent claimed the champagne moment with a glorious approach in front of the clubhouse and a tap-in birdie. Meanwhile, I was left to muse: “The greatest glory is not in never falling but rising every time we fall.”
I hope to seize on King Robert The Bruce’s words at Trump Turnberry in the future and would be more than happy if that day is on its so-called second course.
About Neil
Neil White is a panellist for the NCG Top 100s course rankings. Listen to Neil’s podcast The Golf Pilgrim here.
NCG Top 100s Rankings
The King Robert the Bruce Course at Trump Turnberry sits comfortably inside the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list. It is one of several stunning courses on the Ayrshire coastline to make an appearance…
NOW READ – NCG Top 100s: Trump Turnberry (King Robert the Bruce)
CHECK OUT – NCG Top 100s: Scotland
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