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Despite only hosting its first Open Championship in 1977 (the classic ‘Duel in the Sun’ between Nicklaus and Watson), the Ailsa course has become a classic, and not just because the 1977 championship was so good. Its location is perfect – on a headland overlooking Ailsa Crag and, on a good day, the Mull of Kintyre and the Isle of Arran.
The course itself – first laid out in the early 20th century and redesigned by Mackenzie Ross after WWII – is as good as any you’ll play in Scotland. The finish is as tough as it gets, starting with the deceptively short 15th and concluding with the 18th, backdropped by a hotel and renamed the ‘Duel in the Sun.’
The course was upgraded substantially after Donald Trump bought it in 2015; all it’s waiting for now is to host its fifth Open.
The course is 18 miles south of Ayr on the A77.
Book well in advance on the website. There are lots of dining options at the attached hotel, including the Grand Tea Lounge & Bar and the 1906 restaurant. The ‘Duel in the Sun’ restaurant overlooks the 18th.
The best time to play is April to October, when you don’t need winter mats. Summer times are busiest; September is often quieter and with great weather. Midweek is marginally less expensive.
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Spectacular landscapes, impeccable fairways and greens, brilliantly-designed holes and plenty of golfing folklore – we asked golf expert and journalist Fionn Davenport to recommend his top 30 golf courses from around the world.
