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By David Brice
Golf International, Inc.

Whenever a golf club or resort has multiple courses, one will usually be considered as the prime attraction and the other(s) is often mistakenly regarded as inferior. The unfortunate term, "Second Course" is the phrase often applied and with it comes the assumption that it is not worth playing. In some cases this may be true, but generalizations should never be taken too literally as there are always exceptions.

The Kintyre -- Bound for future stardom.

Scotland's Gleneagles is a good example where three excellent layouts, The Kings, The Queens and The PGA Centenary, defy any rule of thumb as to which is the best and all three are ranked among Scotland's top 50 courses. The plush resort of Turnberry on the Ayrshire coast, presents another instance of the dangers of generalizing.

There are two championship layouts at Turnberry -- The Ailsa and The Kintyre. The Ailsa Course is the main attraction and with good justification. In 2009 this handsome layout will be hosting The British Open for the fourth time and just last year, the course worked its way to the number one ranked position in the entire British Isles. Considered as the best of the best, Ailsa is placed ahead of them all - Muirfield, Royal County Down, Royal Birkdale, even St. Andrews Old Course. Lofty heights indeed, so what chance does Turnberry's Kintyre Course have?

The Kintyre doesn't compete with its much-lauded older brother; it complements it. There was never any attempt to copy The Ailsa and as a result, The Kintyre offers a totally different kind of challenge, filled with its own character. Golf World Magazine recognized this last year when it ranked The Kintyre as # 31 among all Scottish courses. This layout presents a serious challenge to be appreciated by even the most seasoned player.

The Kintyre is a masterly design from Donald Steel.

Originally opened in 1909 as The Arran Course, just like Ailsa, it served as a military airfield during both world wars, suffering some painful abuse in the process. Twice it was rebuilt, including an impressive renovation by the great Mackenzie Ross after World War ll. It wasn't until 1999 the owners decided The Arran was worthy of a complete rebuild, a challenge awarded to noted English architect, Donald Steel.

Retaining the best of the old Arran Course, adding more land with some brand new holes, a totally new layout was inaugurated in the summer of 2001 to great acclaim. So dramatic was the change, a re-christening was deemed appropriate and The Kintyre was born.

Ridding itself of the dreaded "Second Course" tag it had carried for more than 90 years, a rejuvenated Kintyre embarked on a new life as a full-fledged championship course in its own right.

Turnberry's Kintyre - a true champion ranked # 31 in Scotland.

In the brief 6 years since that important career change, The Kintyre has proved to be more than worthy of its newfound status and only seems to be getting better with each passing year. Steel has produced a thoroughly exhilarating layout, now stretching to over 6,850 yards, with just enough mischievousness built in to keep any player on their toes.

Galloping off along the glorious Ayrshire coastline, this is a layout filled with life, vitality and constant changes. Nowhere is this more apparent than at the approach to the turn when the track enters the new territory and Donald Steel's prowess as one of today's great designers becomes strikingly clear.

The view at the short par 4 eighth is simply inspiring, but don't be distracted, you have a tough sequence of holes ahead. Once the view is digested there's a blind shot to the green, nestling in a rock-strewn cove. There's a knee shaking drive at the ninth, a shortish par 5 requiring total accuracy to hold the land along the very edge of the sea. The following shot is no easier and for those who feel tempted to reach the green in two, a test only the most accomplished will attempt. There's a climb up to the tenth, rewarded with perhaps the most spectacular vista on the entire course. Don't be distracted, this is a testy par 4 that demands total concentration.. This is nothing less than a magnificent stretch of holes and the inspiration remains until the close.

Turnberry can indeed now boast a pair of champions and as if to prove the point, The Kintyre was selected as a final qualifier for the 2004 British Open, held at Royal Troon. This special honor has seldom been awarded to a course so young, but the born again Kintyre came through with flying colors and has been invited to repeat the honors in 2009 when big brother Ailsa, hosts golf's event of the year for the fourth time.

Visitors come to Turnberry to play The Ailsa, but those who don't also include a round on The Kintyre, will be missing a real treat and a gutsy track with a very bright future.

For more ideas on how to include Turnberry's two championship courses with other great layouts of the Ayrshire coast, click here.

© 2007 David Brice / Golf International Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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