Director of Championships, David Hill’s top ten tips for visiting Turnberry on practice days: 1. Wear shoes that are suitable for walking on uneven ground and remember most of the day will be spent outdoors. If you walk the entire course you will cover approximately four miles. 2. Look out for information boards that will tell you when players will begin their practice rounds. They will take between 10 to 20 minutes to play each hole. 3. Take a camera as they are only permitted on practice days but don’t bring a mobile phone as these are not permitted at anytime inside the pay gates. 4. Hole 4, “Woe-be-tide” (166 yards, par 3), spend some time at this first short hole. A seat in the grandstand gives a great view of play from tee to green. There are more than 15,000 free grandstand seats around the golf course. 5. Holes 9, 10 and 11. Head out to this run of three seaside holes. Catering, toilets and a giant screen are located in this part of the course. Spend time in the grandstands at Hole 9, “Bruce’s Castle” (449 yards, par 4) and Hole 10, “Dinna Fouter” (456 yards, par 4). Both holes are close the lighthouse on the Ailsa course and the tenth features a spectacular driving opportunity over the seashore. Hole 11, “Maidens” (175 yards, par 3) is the third of four par 3’s at Turnberry. 6. Holes 15 and 16. Stop off on your inward journey at the grandstands on hole 15 “Ca’ Canny” (206 yards, par 3), the last par 3 on the course, without doubt one of the best on The Open rota, and hole 16, “Wee Burn” (455 yards, par 4). 7. Catering and licensed bars are in the tented village and at other points on the course. The average cost of a main dish is £5.50 or if you prefer take a picnic. 8. Take your autograph book as practice days present the best opportunity to ask players to sign on the completion of their rounds. 9. Visit the free Open Championship Film Theatre and The R&A Junior Golf Centre where kids can be introduced to the game by expert coaches free of charge. 10. Visit the giant merchandise Pavilion before you end your day at The Open Championship to buy a souvenir of your visit or simply be photographed next to the famous Claret Jug Trophy.
Where next?
- Turnberry Ailsa hole-by-hole guide
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