83 One byproduct of a series of such thrilling holes is the risk of anticlimax. While the sense of anticipation builds on the first three holes, it is understandable that golfers might spend holes twelve onwards thinking about what has passed, rather than what lies ahead. Had the untouched land been given to an architect today, one might expect their routing to include several separate visits to the coast. It is difficult, however, to imagine how the layout created by Philip Mackenzie Ross (after the original had been converted to an airfield during the Second World War) could further be adapted to allow this, particularly with the lighthouse serving as perhaps the most iconic and impressive halfway house in the world. The Trump Organization is clearly conscious of this, and its answer lies in continuing to invest in elevating the experience of the inland holes on the Ailsa. In the latest project, there have been refinements to holes twelve to fifteen and seventeen. One notable evolution over recent years has been an increase in the acreage of exposed sand areas. To my eye, these are having a positive effect on the aesthetic of the landscape, preferable to bland expanses of scrub that previously occupied areas between some holes. But that view is not universal. “Sometimes we get a lot of criticism for putting them in,” explains Ebert. “We defend that by saying you look at the old pictures of Turnberry or any of our links, and there was a lot more exposed sand. Over the years the vegetation has grown to cover all that sand up. So, there’s an element of restoring the landscape, and there’s an element of ecology in creating habitat for flora and fauna to take over. For me, it beautifies the course and the landscape even more. Not everybody thinks that, but certainly there are a number of reasons to introduce those or reintroduce those features.” So is work on the Ailsa now complete? A philosophy of continuous improvement seems more likely. Most of the heavy lifting may have been done but there remain a few places – the par-three fifteenth, for example – where there is certainly scope for more drama. And that is the hallmark of a Trump golf course. Talking Turnberry Martin Ebert and Allan Patterson spoke about their approach to golf course work at Trump Turnberry for a recent episode of The Greenprint podcast, hosted by Leighton Walker and featuring GCA’s Toby Ingleton. You can access it via most popular podcast platforms and find out more at golfclubtalk.uk/the-green-print. TURNBERRY AILSA The ninth hole was converted to a par three as part of the work completed in 2016 Photo: Trump Turnberry
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