‘Scotland’s best golf course’ named from elite shortlist

There were 28 golf courses in the running to win the honour of ‘Scotland’s Best Golf Course’ at the 2024 World Golf Awards.

With over 500 courses laid out across the Home of Golf, even getting shortlisted at the annual ceremony was no mean feat.

Especially when you are competing with world renowned Open venues like the Old Course at St Andrews, Royal Troon, Muirfield and the Championship Course at Carnoustie.

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It will come as no surprise, however, that Trump Turnberry’s acclaimed Ailsa course took home the top prize.

The revered course designer Martin Ebert redesigned the iconic Ayrshire links between 2014 and 2016, and is now overseeing further developments ahead of its re-opening in 2025.

“With stunning views and start-to-finish drama, the Ailsa is quite rightly regarded as one of the best golf courses in the world,” General Manager Nic Oldham said.

“As befits the Home of Golf, Scotland has no shortage of iconic and historic courses, so to be named the nation’s best is an incredible feat.

“We would like to thank the World Golf Awards and everyone who voted for the Ailsa and are working with Martin Ebert again to open an even better version of this storied course next year.”

The Ailsa is currently closed to the public until spring as part of a £1million refurbishment to elevate the four-time Open venue.

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The changes will centre around the coastal seventh and eighth holes, as well as upgrades to the back-nine.

However, at this stage it appears unlikely that the Donald Trump-owned course will not be rewarded with the chance to stage golf’s oldest major in the near future.

Outgoing R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers confirmed that there are no immediate plans to bring majors to the venue and that Trump’s re-election to the White House did not change that stance.

“The position at the moment, in respect of Turnberry, is that we will not be taking events there until we’re comfortable that the whole dialogue will be about golf,” Slumbers told the Golf Channel.

“That is a situation we’re still not comfortable with, but that could evolve in the coming years.”

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.