Trump Turnberry, King Robert the Bruce
The quieter of Turnberry's two championship links, the King Robert the Bruce was reborn in 2017 when Martin Ebert reworked the old Kintyre layout into a spectacular run of coastal holes on Bain's Hill. You get the same Turnberry conditioning, the same view to Ailsa Craig and Arran, without the Open Championship price of the Ailsa next door.
Photo: Turnberry, King Robert The Bruce Golf Course via Google, contributor golftraveller.
The verdict
For decades the second course at Turnberry lived in the long shadow of the Ailsa, the Open Championship links that wraps around the lighthouse. The 2017 redesign changed that. Martin Ebert of Mackenzie & Ebert pushed new holes up onto Bain's Hill and out toward the cliffs, then renamed the course for Robert the Bruce, born at Turnberry Castle in 1274. The result is a genuine championship test in its own right, a par 72 of 7,203 yards that shares the resort's turf, its sea air and its horizon of Ailsa Craig and the Isle of Arran.
It suits the travelling golfer who wants the Turnberry coastline and presentation but would rather spend the marquee budget on the Ailsa and play the Bruce as the relaxed, scenic companion round. Play both in a stay and you understand the property properly. The Bruce is less famous, a touch more forgiving off the tee, and on its day every bit as beautiful.
King Robert the Bruce at a glance
- Designer
- Mackenzie & Ebert
- Reopened
- 2017
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 7,203 yds
- Green fee
- Around £250
Designer, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the resort and course databases. The green fee is an indicative high season figure for visitors, roughly 250 pounds for 18 holes in summer 2026, with lower rates for Trump Turnberry hotel guests and a Scottish resident afternoon rate. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The signature moment is the ninth, where Ebert carved a green out onto the cliff above Kintyre's Cove. It is the kind of clifftop one shot at a green that golfers cross oceans for, the sea breaking below and Ailsa Craig sitting offshore like a punctuation mark. Stand on that tee on a clear evening and the Bruce needs no further argument.
The new holes on Bain's Hill give the round its lift, climbing to high ground where the wind has its say and the views open to Arran and the Mull of Kintyre. From up there the course tumbles back toward the sea through firm, rolling links ground that rewards a runner along the turf rather than a shot flown all the way to the flag.
The closing stretch brings you home along the lower links beside the Ailsa, sharing the same dunes and the same outlook to the lighthouse. It is a fair finish rather than a brutal one, which is part of the appeal. The Bruce gives you the drama of Turnberry without sending you home beaten.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course at Trump Turnberry, open to visitors. Hotel guests receive preferential rates |
| Green fee | Around 250 pounds for 18 holes in high season, summer 2026 (indicative) |
| Resident rate | Scottish residents can book an afternoon fourball at a reduced rate (recent seasons) |
| Booking | Reserve through the Trump Turnberry resort golf office, ideally well ahead in summer |
| On the day | Buggies and caddies available by arrangement; pair it with the Ailsa for a full day |
| Best months | May to September for the firmest turf and the long Ayrshire evenings |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the resort; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with Turnberry or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is the Trump Turnberry hotel itself, the grand Edwardian pile on the hill above the links, where guests play both courses at preferential rates and look down on the lighthouse from the lounge. It is one of the great golf hotels in Britain and the simplest way to play the Bruce and the Ailsa back to back.
For a wider Ayrshire trip, Troon and Ayr put you within easy reach of Royal Troon and Western Gailes as well, so you can build a links week along the Firth of Clyde and use Turnberry as the showpiece finish.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near King Robert the Bruce.
Play the Bruce and the Ailsa at Turnberry
We secure the tee times on both Turnberry links, arrange the hotel on the hill and the transfers, and weave in Royal Troon and Western Gailes if you want the full Ayrshire run. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
King Robert the Bruce questions
Who designed the King Robert the Bruce course?
The course was created by Martin Ebert of the architects Mackenzie and Ebert, who reworked the resort's former Kintyre layout and opened the new King Robert the Bruce course in 2017. It is named after Robert the Bruce, who was born at Turnberry Castle in 1274.
What is the par and length of the King Robert the Bruce?
It is a par 72 links measuring 7,203 yards from the back tees, built on the high ground of Bain's Hill and the lower links beside the Ailsa course at Trump Turnberry.
How much does it cost to play in 2026?
The indicative visitor green fee in high season summer 2026 is around 250 pounds for 18 holes, with lower rates for Trump Turnberry hotel guests and a reduced afternoon rate for Scottish residents. These figures change by season, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Can visitors play the King Robert the Bruce?
Yes. It is a resort course and welcomes visitors, with preferential rates for guests staying at the Trump Turnberry hotel. Booking ahead through the resort golf office is strongly advised in summer.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.