King Robert the Bruce at Trump Turnberry Resort

The King Robert the Bruce course at Trump Turnberry Resort serves as the property's second championship layout, complementing the more famous Ailsa course along Scotland's Ayrshire coast. Originally designed by Mackenzie Ross and opened in 1951 as the Arran course, the layout underwent significant redesign under the direction of Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson, reopening in its current form in 2017. The course takes its name from the medieval Scottish king who is said to have been born at Turnberry Castle, whose ruins overlook the property.

The routing occupies slightly more elevated and inland ground than the Ailsa, though it still offers views across the Firth of Clyde to the Isle of Arran and Ailsa Craig. The course measures over 7,200 yards from the championship tees and features a links character with rolling fairways, strategic bunkering, and the wind patterns typical of this stretch of the Scottish coast. Several holes play along higher ground that provides panoramic coastal perspectives, while others move through more sheltered terrain.

The redesign by Nicklaus and Watson aimed to create a modern championship test that could complement rather than compete with the Ailsa's historic reputation. The course incorporates design principles from both architects' playing and design philosophies, with emphasis on strategic options from the tee and approach play that rewards precision. While it does not host professional tournaments with the frequency of the Ailsa, the King Robert the Bruce provides resort guests and members with a substantial links challenge in a dramatic coastal setting.