The King Robert the Bruce course at Trump Turnberry is a links course worthy of such a regal name, and not just because the actual Robert the Bruce grew up right next door in Turnberry Castle, now the site of Turnberry Lighthouse. Like its more illustrious sibling Ailsa, King Robert the Bruce was designed by Martin Ebert. Together, these two courses have turned Trump Turnberry into a 36-hole golf destination of real substance.
Before there was King Robert the Bruce, there was Kintyre. Built on the foundations of the old Arran course, Kintyre was an 18-hole course designed by Donald Steel. It opened in 2001, 16 years before it would be rebadged as King Robert the Bruce.
When King Robert the Bruce opened in 2017, it was immediately hailed as one of the best modern courses in Scotland. This speaks volumes, as King Robert the Bruce still plays second fiddle to the more famous Trump Turnberry golf course, Ailsa. Don’t be fooled though; there’s still a lot to love about this course, especially the views from the eight to the 11th, where the coastline, castle ruins, and lighthouse come together to set the scene.