- Can visitors play Turnberry Ailsa?
- Yes. Turnberry is a resort course (now part of the Trump Turnberry property) and accepts visitor tee times directly via the resort. Booking is online or by phone up to 12 months ahead; resort guests get priority access. The course is open year-round, with reduced winter rates from November to March.
- What is the green fee at Turnberry Ailsa?
- £525 per round for the standard 2026 summer rate — the highest standard green fee on any Scottish course, reflecting both the course's pedigree and the resort's positioning. Resort-guest rates and twilight rates are lower; winter rates drop to around £200. The Castle and King Robert the Bruce courses on the same property are alternative options.
- Is Turnberry on the Open Championship rota?
- Not currently. Turnberry hosted four Opens between 1977 and 2009 — including the famous 'Duel in the Sun' between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus in 1977 — but has not hosted since. The R&A indicated in 2021 that no future Open dates would be awarded while the resort's current ownership remains. Whether and when it returns to the rota is unresolved.
- What is the famous lighthouse hole at Turnberry?
- The 9th, redesigned in 2016 by Martin Ebert as a par 3 played from a clifftop tee toward the lighthouse and over the bay. The shot is one of the most dramatic in world golf — 250 yards across rocks and sea on a calm day, considerably longer when the wind blows. The Turnberry lighthouse itself dates from 1873 and is now a halfway house with a small museum about the Royal Air Force pilot training that was conducted on the site during both World Wars.
- Is there a dress code at Turnberry?
- Smart casual on the course (collared shirt, tailored trousers or proper golf shorts, soft spikes only). The clubhouse and resort public rooms have a smarter dress standard — collared shirts and trousers/shorts at minimum; jacket-and-tie is not required outside specific dining rooms. The resort sets the standard rather than a traditional members' club.
- Should I take a caddie at Turnberry?
- Recommended for first-time visitors. Caddies bookable through the resort's caddie master at the same time as the tee time. £80 per round plus a customary £20 tip. The redesigned course's lines have changed since 2016; even visitors who played pre-redesign benefit from a current caddie's read.
- Where do I stay at Turnberry?
- The Trump Turnberry hotel beside the course is the obvious answer; rooms in 2026 start at around £400 per night peak season. The Westin Turnberry was the property's previous brand and the bones of the building are unchanged. For visitors who prefer to base elsewhere, Ayr (30 min north) and Girvan (10 min south) both have smaller hotels and B&Bs.
- How much does it cost to play at Trump Turnberry (Ailsa)?
- A visitor round costs £425–£1000, checked against the club's published rates on 28 June 2026.
- Can visitors play at weekends?
- Visitors are welcome but mid-week is markedly easier and quieter. Confirm a weekend tee time as far ahead as you can — popular Saturdays book up first.
- How early can I book a tee time?
- Visitor bookings open 365 days ahead by email to the secretary. Group bookings of 8+ can usually be arranged further ahead.
- Is there a dress code?
- Smart casual, collared shirts. Soft only.
- Are buggies allowed?
- Yes, available at the pro shop. Most members walk with a trolley though — the course is genuinely walkable.
- What's the best time of year to play?
- May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep for full conditions. Late May and early Sep are quietest with fair value. Year-round, best Apr–Oct.
