Trump Turnberry (King Robert the Bruce)

Trump Turnberry King Robert The Bruce opened in June 2017 as Martin Ebert's transformation of the former Kintyre layout. The links spans 7,203 yards across land where Robert the Bruce was born in 1274 at Turnberry Castle, now marked by the iconic lighthouse built by the family of Robert Louis Stevenson.

Why Play Trump Turnberry King Robert The Bruce?

Experience four spectacular coastal holes atop Bain's Hill, including the clifftop 9th green perched above Kintyre's Cove. Trump Turnberry now offers 36 holes of championship links golf alongside world-class resort facilities.

History of Trump Turnberry King Robert The Bruce

Golf commenced at Turnberry in 1901 when Lord Ailsa commissioned Willie Fernie to create the first links for Girvan Golf Club. A second layout arrived in 1909, with both courses destroyed during World War II when the land became an airbase. Philip MacKenzie Ross rebuilt the war-ravaged Ailsa in 1954, and the nine-hole Arran layout appeared on some of the original second course terrain.

Donald Steel and Martin Ebert collaborated in 2001 to create the 18-hole Kintyre layout from the Arran foundations, introducing Bain's Hill to the routing with elevated holes offering dramatic coastal vistas. Donald Trump acquired the resort in July 2014 for $60 million, appointing Ebert to oversee comprehensive improvements across the entire golf operation.

Ebert returned in 2016 to redesign the Kintyre completely, reversing the direction of the coastal holes to maximise views of the lighthouse, Ailsa Craig and the Firth of Clyde. The rechristened King Robert The Bruce opened in June 2017, honouring the Scottish warrior who became King of Scots in 1306 after being raised at Turnberry Castle. Contractor SOL Golf implemented significant modifications, including removing the artificial burn on the opening hole, establishing sandy waste areas, creating wetlands between the 5th and 13th holes, and introducing four completely new holes atop Bain's Hill.

Course Layout & Playing Experience

The par-72 layout measures 7,203 yards from the championship tees, beginning and ending on relatively flat terrain inland before ascending to Bain's Hill for the spectacular middle stretch. The opening hole, now a par-5 reaching 618 yards, replaced its former burn with central fairway bunkers, creating strategic options from the tee. Fairway bunkers throughout feature marram grass "eyebrow" faces contrasting with the crisp, revetted greenside hazards.

The architecture transforms dramatically from the 7th hole onwards. The climb towards Bain's Hill begins at "Round the Mountain," a dogleg left playing uphill out of sight from the tee. The elevated 8th tee presents vast ocean views, with the par-5 sweeping down towards a testing semi-infinity green with the lighthouse dominating the horizon.

The 9th represents the climax. This par-4 doubles back along the clifftop to a green perched above the rocks, fronted by a perilous valley that demands precision. Ebert described this as "perhaps the most exciting hole which Turnberry has to offer." The par-3 10th plays across its own valley to an undulated green protected by four bunkers, whilst the 11th extends to a sprawling par-5 with the lighthouse as the focal point from the tee.

The routing returns through holes framed by the wetland habitat introduced between the 5th and 13th, enhanced by additional bunkers, tightening the strategic challenge. The par-5 18th provides a demanding finale, with a dozen bunkers lining the fairway and protecting the green positioned below the clubhouse windows.

Notable Architectural Features

Ebert's reversal of the coastal holes represents the transformation's masterstroke. Where the Kintyre routing played outward along the clifftop, the King Robert The Bruce turns inward, placing the lighthouse and Ailsa Craig as backdrops rather than distant objectives. This reorientation, combined with recontouring the land, created four entirely new holes exploiting terrain that previously hosted some of Kintyre's weaker moments.

The burn removal on the opening hole eliminated an artificial feature, replacing it with strategic bunker placement that offers genuine risk-reward decisions. The wetland introduction between the 5th and 13th centuries serves dual purposes—creating ecological diversity whilst providing both visual appeal and strategic hazards.

The greenside bunkering follows championship standards with neat revetment requiring precise recovery shots, contrasting deliberately with the more rugged, marram-fringed fairway hazards. This duality reflects links tradition whilst accommodating modern playing standards and maintenance practices.

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Travel & Planning

Regional Golf Context

Trump Turnberry anchors Ayrshire's remarkable concentration of championship links along Scotland's southwest coast. Royal Troon sits 39km (24 miles) away, approximately 30 minutes driving via the A77, offering both the Old Course and Portland Course for contrasting links experiences. Prestwick Golf Club, birthplace of The Open Championship in 1860, lies 43km (27 miles) north, whilst Western Gailes and Glasgow Gailes provide two further distinguished tests within the same corridor.

Dundonald Links sits just 35km (22 miles) northeast, approximately 35 minutes driving, offering Kyle Phillips' modern links interpretation alongside outstanding practice facilities. The Troon area presents an ideal accommodation base, positioning golfers within 30-45 minutes of Turnberry whilst providing immediate access to Royal Troon, Prestwick, Western Gailes, Barassie and Dundonald Links.

Multi-course itineraries benefit from Turnberry's southern position. Week-long holidays typically combine 36 holes at Turnberry with visits to the Troon cluster and potentially ventures north to Glasgow's parkland courses or south to Machrihanish on the Kintyre Peninsula, accessible via ferry from Ardrossan.

Practical Planning

Trump Turnberry operates as a five-star resort with on-site accommodation, multiple restaurants including the Duel in the Sun, spa facilities, and comprehensive practice areas. The resort features the Ailsa Course alongside King Robert The Bruce, the nine-hole Arran course, Wee Links pitch and putt, Cairngorms putting green, and the Turnberry Golf Academy with TrackMan facilities.

Advance booking remains essential year-round given the resort's international reputation and limited daily tee times. Resort guests receive priority access and enhanced tee time availability. The layout presents manageable walking for most fitness levels, though caddies enhance the experience significantly, particularly for first-time visitors navigating the coastal stretch.

Transport Information ✈️

Glasgow International Airport: 82km (51 miles), approximately 60 minutes driving via the A77. Major car rental facilities provide direct motorway access southbound through Ayrshire.

Edinburgh Airport: 140km (87 miles), approximately 100 minutes driving via the M8 and A77 for international connections, particularly transatlantic services.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport: 50km (31 miles), approximately 45 minutes driving, serves as the closest airport with limited commercial services but is convenient for private aviation and some European routes.

Ground Transport: The A77 provides the primary route from Glasgow, transitioning to the A719 at Kirkoswald for the final approach to Turnberry. The resort maintains comprehensive parking facilities.

Seasonal Timing

Spring (March-May): Firm conditions develop as the links emerge from winter dormancy. March through April offers value pricing before peak season commences in May. Advance booking is essential for May onwards.

Summer (June-August): Peak season delivers extended daylight for potential 36-hole days, though premium pricing applies and tee times require booking months ahead. July-August presents the warmest temperatures but also peak visitor numbers.

Autumn (September-October): Shoulder season provides excellent conditions with firmer turf and fewer crowds than high summer. September particularly rewards with settled weather and attractive pricing compared to peak months.

Winter (November-February): Year-round play remains available, though reduced daylight and winter storms can impact scheduling. Exceptional value pricing rewards hardy golfers willing to embrace authentic Scottish links conditions.

Trump Turnberry King Robert The Bruce: The Verdict

The transformation from Kintyre to King Robert The Bruce elevated Turnberry from a resort with one world-class links to a genuine 36-hole championship destination.

The reversal of the coastal holes demonstrates how reimagining existing terrain can create entirely new playing experiences—the clifftop 9th alone justifies the visit.

Whilst the Ailsa rightfully commands attention as a four-time Open Championship venue, the King Robert The Bruce delivers spectacular moments throughout the middle stretch that rival anything in Scottish links golf. Combined with Ayrshire's unmatched concentration of historic links venues positioned within a 30-minute drive, this represents one of Scotland's premier golf holiday destinations.