Turnberry Changes

[FairwayDodger]

Haven't seen anything on here yet but what do people make of Trump's proposed changes to the Ailsa? Especially turning the 9th into a cliff top par 3 and using the lighthouse as the halfway house.

http://digitalmag.globalgolfpost.com/20141117#&pageSet=24&page=0&contentItem=0

No doubt that'll be a spectacular par 3 but a fairly drastic change to an iconic hole on a classic course. I find myself torn, I want to see the new hole but worry about tinkering too much with one of the country's best courses....

 

[CMAC]

its with R&A approval though and I'm all for a really spectacular clifftop par 3 :whoo:

 

[IanG]

Never played there unfortunately so my input has little substance, but it certainly sounds spectacular and I'd hope Trump would have the sense to be guided by the R&A as to what is acceptable. No doubt he will push the boundaries - so long as the lighthouse isn't lit up like a Vegas strip motel it might work out ok.

 

[Wildrover]

Not sure about a long par3 over water, is that links golf?

 

[IanG]

Not sure about a long par3 over water, is that links golf?

With the right constellation of bunkers I don't think it would be sacrilegious.

 

[patricks148]

Id heard he was turning the lighthouse into a windmill

 

[CMAC]

Not sure about a long par3 over water, is that links golf?

its currently a par 4 over water

 

[Val]

Not sure about a long par3 over water, is that links golf?

Of course it is, first though was Kingsbarns has one as does the Castle Course at St Andrews

 

[bigslice]

im all for whatever Trump wants to do with Turnberry. (nothing to do with a job ive applied for ).

 

[patricks148]

Of course it is, first though was Kingsbarns has one as does the Castle Course at St Andrews

Not forgetting the first at Machrihanish, its over rated though

 

[Val]

Not forgetting the first at Machrihanish, its over rated though

Which is of course a par 4 not a par 3

 

[patricks148]

Which is of course a par 4 not a par 3

in that case Tain has 2 par 3's over water, 16 and 17, does a burn count?

 

[Hickory_Hacker]

Not sure about a long par3 over water, is that links golf?

I catch your drift but it is going over the sea :rofl:

 

[JCW]

Id heard he was turning the lighthouse into a windmill

What they putting in a crazy golf thing in

 

[OldMate]

I don't see the point in changing what is currently an iconic hole. The current hole design already makes full use of the coastline/ruins/lighthouse (at least from the championship tees) and there is already a wind-affected par 3 a couple of holes later.

 

[Steve Bamford]

A beautiful hole in it's current guise and loved by Peter Oosterhuis http://www1.skysports.com/news/2881...e-ailsa-turnberry-chosen-by-peter-oostershuis

I can remember watching Tiger Woods coming to grief there in the 2009 Open on the Friday

 

[FairwayDodger]

I don't see the point in changing what is currently an iconic hole. The current hole design already makes full use of the coastline/ruins/lighthouse (at least from the championship tees) and there is already a wind-affected par 3 a couple of holes later.

From my recollection it's a dramatic tee shot followed by a fairly mundane approach/green.

 

[CMAC]

From my recollection it's a dramatic tee shot followed by a fairly mundane approach/green.

Couldnt agree more- a Dramatic par 3 keeps the drama going even at the green

 

[lobthewedge]

Done right, this could be a great move by old Trumper.

Like others have said, the 9th is an iconic tee shot, but thats it; once up over the brow of the hill it is a very boring mundane approach to the green. A long par 3 over the rocks would transform the hole and the challenge it offers, without losing the drama of the tee shot. Having played off both very back tees, I would actually say the 10th is a more dramatic and perilous tee shot to a far superior golf hole.

I reckon he might also lengthen one of the earlier par 3s, bulking it up to a par 4. Otherwise he would have an overall par of 69 and a stretch of 9 holes from the 4th to 12th that would include 4 par 3s. My money would be on the 6th, in my opinion the weaker of the two and from what I recall the easiest to stretch a bit to become a risk and rewards short par 4.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

From my recollection it's a dramatic tee shot followed by a fairly mundane approach/green.

That's right, strip it down and take away the sea, rocks and the lighthouse and you have a pretty poor hole. Whaleback fairway drive landing area that can kick anywhere in a dry spell.

Good plans including the help for Prestwick.
Flying the rich tourists in for Royal Troon, Prestwick, Dundonald and stay and play at Turnberry makes a lot of sense.