Course: Turnberry Ailsa, Turnberry
 
Built on a land that was owned by a railway company a century ago, the Turnberry Golf Club, established in 1902, has been at the brink of extinction twice. The course fondly known as Scotland’s Pebble Beach served as an airfield during both World Wars and on both occasions several of its holes were concretized to make way for an airfield! Thanks to the tenacity of its owners at that time and to the expert touch of Phillip Ross Mackenzie, Turnberry was returned to its former glory in 1951.

Set along the Irish Sea, Turnberry was one of the hot spots of golf in the early 1900s, marred only by the two wars. The popular, original championship course was designed by Willie Fernie of Troon at the behest of the Marquess of Ailsa and by the time the Turnberry Hotel opened in 1906, the course was at its zenith. With stunning views across the Isles of Mull and Arran, Turnberry was and is considered one of the most demanding links courses in the world. 

Most holes on the course are framed by sand dunes except, surprisingly, for holes 4th to the 11th, that are fastened to the sea. This fact is appreciated by golfers when faced with the gushing sea wind on one of these holes making the challenge tougher. But this out and back layout makes for a hard test right from the opening three holes, which are all par 3 and make you sweat as soon as  begin your round,.

The rugged coastline forms the periphery of the course and the dramatic sea view includes the Turnberry Lighthouse. By the time you reach the signature 9th and are set to tee off from its remote location on a rocky outcropping, the view becomes even more distracting. Capricious weather adds to your woes at Turnberry which is a tricky, unforgiving course demanding a skilled player.

Course: St. Andrews Links (Old) St. Andrews
 
Crafted by Mother Nature with post scripts added by Old Tom Morris and Dr. Alister Mackenzie, The Old Course at St. Andrews is the ultimate expression of the game of golf. Founded in 1764 as a 12-hole course, The Old Course made golfers deal with an anachronistic 22 holes tricky round, capricious weather and a captivating landscape. Sometime after 1764 The Society of St. Andrews Golfers decided to combine a few holes and reduce it to an 18-hole layout giving it the shape and layout it boasts today.

The layout has changed little since adjustments made by Old Tom Morris but the imposing sand dunes, the whistling winds and the goose bumps that come from playing in the birthplace of the great game remain intact. The Old Course is more than a golf course; it is a pilgrimage that every golfer aspires to make at least once in his lifetime…and mostly succeeds. 

The first round at St. Andrews is certainly the most memorable one; every hole, every hazard has a story to tell. But the biggest surprise comes in the form of highly undulating fairways and gigantic greens that spring upon you unexpectedly. So it is no wonder most visitors choose to play the 6,566 yards as compared to the 7,000 yards on a track that has hosted more than 25 Open Championships and a series of other events over the years.

Playing at a par of 72 from the longest tees, the Old Course entrances you with 1st, 11th, 14th and the most widely celebrated – the 17th Road hole. If the 1st hole is awe inspiring, the rest will make you draw every club in your bag. Regardless of how often you get to walk away with a par, The Old Course at St. Andrews will beckon you again and again.

Course: St. Andrews Golf Course (New) - St. Andrews
 
The Old Course at St. Andrews has always been one of the most sought after tracks worldwide. But when in the late 19th century, a newly constructed railway service made it easier for golfers to flock the Old Course, things got a little out of hand. To accommodate this teeming crowd milling outside the gates of the Royal & Ancient the club decided to invest in the construction of a new course. This sponsorship was based on an understanding that the members of the R&A would have rights to starting times on the New Course. These rights were legalized by an Act of Parliament that still exits.

Old Tom Morris and B Hall Blyth did the honors of designing the layout and the ‘New’ Course opened for play in 1895. Sitting right next door to the esteemed Old Course, the New Course at St. Andrews rapidly gained in popularity with the locals and visitors alike. A big reason for this, of course, was the availability of tee times but more importantly, the New Course offered a tighter layout with a well defined set of holes. There are several inevitable similarities to the Old Course including shared fairways and a double green at the 3rd and 15th but the New Course is still largely an independent entity.

Measuring a little more than 6,600 yards and set in the traditional nine out and back layout, the New Course boasts of widely undulating fairways, immaculate greens protected by bunkers and large expanses of flowering gorse. The initial, outward nine is not too difficult and allows the golfer to play at a leisurely pace. The back nine is more challenging as it meanders its way through huge sand dunes and leads to the finishing hole just near the club house. 

It is often said that had it not been for the close proximity with the Old Course, the New at St. Andrews would have shone brighter. For a flock of faithful, the New Course is bright enough to keep returning to this classic links course.