The Duel in the Sun
This was to become known as 'the Duel in the Sun' a classic fight between two of the best golfers ever to play the game: Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus. The weather scorched the fairways to a golden brown and most of the field found that such fiery conditions were just too difficult to control their ball around this tough test. Tom Watson had only just risen to world prominence, and the hearts of the British, when he won against Jack Newton two years previously, and Jack Nicklaus played a seemingly different game from the other competitors that week. Nicklaus had already won fourteen of his major championships by 1977 and was clearly the King.

They fought like well mannered wild cats, extending only the utmost sportsmanship to each other, while they jousted for the Old Claret Jug with the instincts of street brawlers. They got so far ahead of the rest of the field, that this became a rare case of the oldest stroke play championship being played out in match play format. The last round again produced a barrage of birdies, with the contest going all the way to the last, when Watson had seemingly closed the event when he hit two superb long irons to a yard – but Jack liked an Open, and wasn't quite finished. Nicklaus made one of the least probable birdie threes ever seen, from a gorse bush to the right of the fairway and a long putt, perfectly judged. Watson, with a youthful boldness that was later to desert him, rammed the putt home and the two great champions walked off the green like brothers.

A better display of golf has rarely been seen and a better display of sportsmanship in golf has never been seen again! Watson nearly completed the most remarkable return to major winning at Turnberry in 2009, when he needed just a four at the last to once again triumph at Turnberry in the Open. Perhaps at 59 years of age, this was just too much to hope for and Stuart Cink, the very worthy champion, still is regarded as the man 'who shot Bambi' for denying one more Hollywood scene for Watson, with Watson missing his final putt on the last with a stroke, laden with a ghastly lack of purpose. Turnberry has ignited dreams in many of us since those days of great Opens and its courses are a real treat to play. With good weather, there is no finer place to play, but this must surely be one of the best places to enjoy golf in a gale. There is a strong membership, which play most of their summer golf on the less known, but superb Kintyre Course.

The Ailsa course is a classic, but the Kintyre course is a perfect complement to the Championship Links and just a little less severe in the toughest of winds. Both courses are trimmed to natural perfection by the expert team of greenkeepers; the course is hardly ever closed, and only a deep frost will keep golfers off the greens on some very early starts. The relationship between major world resort and a membership can sometimes be strained, but the situation seems to work very well, with club members having plenty of access to the Championship course in the quieter months, with golfing tourists paying – it must be said – considerably more, getting access as part of their Scottish Golfing Odyssey. The undulations and run off areas are so typical of a classic links, that it is no wonder that the course is an Open venue.

Ailsa Craig
Ailsa Craig is the famous island, which is visible in most conditions, just a few miles out to sea. The isle is the only place where curling stones are made from a particular type of granite, which bubbled to the earth’s surface here in a volcanic eruption many millions of years ago. Curling is a very traditional game, played on ice, which has recently been a source of much encouragement to British hopes in the winter Olympics!

Turnberry is also home to the Montgomerie Links Golf Academy. Colin Montgomerie grew up at Turnberry,where his father was the secretary for many years. He is involved regularly in golf days and corporate functions with his sponsors, and also uses the complex to keep his game in shape. The Academy is an impressive construction with a fully tiled roof and sturdy walls pebble- dashed to match the rest of the local buildings. In reception there is plenty of space for group coaching seminars and it is also where lessons and custom fitting sessions are booked. The custom fitting centre is a fully blown Taylormade master fitting centre. There are two large suites with roller shutters opening onto the range and an array of technology to inspire confidence in the most cynical of golfers. Each part of the body’s motion is tracked and photographed with special high speed video cameras and an ‘Avatar’ style computerised image can then be seen by client and fitting technician. Similar detail is applied to the club head at impact and various shots are analysed before the roller shutter is raised and the actual ball flight is seen. The shots are then measured with a launch monitor and the fine tuning of the clubs moves towards a conclusion.

All of the Taylormade demo clubs and shafts are available with quick-fit interchangeable heads, which are selected and locked into position in a matter of seconds. This allows for the type of fine tuning that can make a real difference to a top player. This is a very thorough way of ensuring that the correct clubs have been selected and it is extremely popular with quality players, top amateurs and professionals alike. Most club fittings can then be made up into orders on site within the day, as the Academy carries sufficient components and a fully equipped assembly area to be able to offer this service. There are very few of these Taylormade fitting units in the world and it is not surprising that the customer’s considerations are once again put at the top of the list of considerations. During the war, the hotel was taken over for use as a hospital and the course closed so it could be operated as an military airport. The tarmac from the runway is still present today and runs, for the main part, between the two courses.

Just a few years ago, the Luxury Spa at Turnberry was added to the hotel's exceptional facilities. It offers all the latest ESPA treatments and other luxurious ways of unwinding are now so popular that they help to broaden the appeal of a facility. Traditionally this may have been somewhere to park the wife, while hubby played golf, but while spas are still more used by the fairer sex, the rise in men keen to relax and take all kinds of treatments has been one of the most surprising aspects of the spa business.

Turnberry is beautifully run by a highly professional team of very friendly staff, who are determined to ensure that you enjoy your experience. There are a number of excellent lodges to complement the main hotel rooms: the lodges are pebble-dashed in a manner that suggests they may have once been fishermen's cottages, but once inside they are the height of comfort and luxury. There is an excellent shuttle service from the lodges to the main hotel lobby, so golfers can enjoy some après golf experiences without the fear of a walk home. All serious golfers must play Turnberry before they die. Not many courses are as special – this is one for everyone's 'Bucket List'.

More details at www.turnberryresort.co.uk