Download the Course Upgrades at Turnberry for the 2009 Open Championship Booklet
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Turnberry,
Ailsa Course
Ayrshire, Scotland
In July 2009, The Open returns to this most visually exciting of all venues on the championship rota. It will offer even more exhilarating television coverage with the 10th tee now positioned right on the rocky shoreline requiring a tee shot carrying over the beach to the fairway. The 16th and 17th will also be much more formidable following significant changes to both. The 16th has been lengthened and now doglegs around newly constructed dunes and craters to the right of the hole. This has allowed the 17th to be extended by up to 60 yards with new tees.
The Amateur Championship, played over the Ailsa links in June of 2008, provided a good preview for the Open. The course was played at its full length in very variable conditions. On one day, the revised 16th could be reached with a drive and a sand iron whereas, in one of the qualifying rounds, it was virtually impossible for the field to carry the Wee Burn in front of the green in two shots. At the 17th, the 200 yard carry to the fairway could only be made with the truest strikes during the periods of strongest wind. Despite this, there were some excellent qualifying scores but none lower than 67, with the best recorded, unsurprisingly, in more reasonable weather.
Other venues advised:
Royal St. Georges
Royal Lytham & St. Annes
Royal Troon
Royal Liverpool
Mackenzie & Ebert Ltd, Metro House, Northgate, Chichester, West Sussex, England, PO191BE , Tel +44( 0) 1243 531901 - pitchandrun18@aol.com