With half The Race to Duabi season and two Major’s already completed, the world’s leading players and top contenders of The Race to Dubai now begin to focus on the third Major of teh season, The 138th Open Championship set to be played at the iconic Turnberry resort in a matter of weeks. Since the oldest Open in golf was last hosted on the historic Ailsa course there have been many changes to accommodate and test the strengths of a modern day golfer.
The Ailsa course, widely considered one of the world’s finest links courses, was closed in November 2008 by Leisurecorp to carry out a range of enhancements and to ensure its pristine condition for The Open Championship. Since Zimbabwean Nick Price triumphed at Turnberry 15 years ago, the course is now 247 yards longer, with six new tees built and various fairway realignments extending the layout from 6,957 to 7,204 yards for The Open Championship. 21 new bunkers have also been added using 8,000 m² of turf and more than 7,500 man hours.
The straight 410-yard 16th has undergone a major redesign, changing to a 455-yard dogleg right, with new dunes and hollows created near the burn in front of the green.
The par-five 17th, famous for Price’s 50-foot putt for eagle as he saw off Sweden’s Jesper Parnevik, has been stretched from 498 to 559 yards with three new bunkers also added.
A dramatic new tee at the 10th has also been constructed on a rocky outcrop near Turnberry’s iconic lighthouse and the drive now demands a 200-yard carry over the bay.
George Brown, Turnberry’s Golf Courses & Estates Manager, believes the changes are necessary to accommodate the game’s modern day big hitters.
“When the players turn up this year, accuracy and skillful golfing will be the key - not just length but ball control will be imperative,” he said, “On some courses, you can get away with a few errant chops here and there, but if you’re offline at Turnberry this year, you won’t be making pars and birdies - that’s for sure. It’ll bring the skillful player into the picture, not just the long players. You don’t have to be long to win here at Turnberry; you just have to be skillful.”
With the new changes and alterations to Ailsa, there is no doubt the players will have to be at their best to claim victory on this stunning course which on July 16-19 will welcome them with a smile, however, they should all be aware of the bite that now lies beneath the smile!
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