Turnberry’s Ailsa Club is the top ‘Trump’ of golf membership

Ailsa Club members also get fourballs at Trump Aberdeen.

We head to Turnberry to sample the new Ailsa Club, a golf membership designed to ‘Trump’ all others.

Named after the iconic Open-hosting course, just 50 people – or the Founding Fifty as they’ll be known ­– will form the initial Ailsa Club membership. You’ll be unsurprised to hear that this isn’t a membership that targets the average Joe. Prices start at £15,000, but those who can afford to join will enjoy incredible access and perks at Donald Trump’s five-star Ayrshire resort – No.2 in our Top 100 Golf Resorts in Britain and Ireland.

A quick check of my bank balance confirms this Digital Editor won’t be among them but I was offered three days of complimentary membership to sample the new offering for Today’s Golfer. It’s safe to say that those who won’t need a bank loan to join are in for an absolute treat and, having seen a few of the people who have already signed up, they’ll be in esteemed company – we can’t name names, so you’ll just have to trust us.

Unlimited world-class golf

But what does Turnberry’s Ailsa Club membership get you? Well, most importantly you’ll enjoy unlimited tee times on both the four-time Open Championship-hosting Ailsa (one of the world’s best golf courses) and the King Robert the Bruce (59th in our Scottish Top 100) as well as the nine-hole Arran, a beautifully conditioned course of par 3s and 4s which is ideal for sharpening your game.

You’ll also receive guest vouchers to allow three of your friends to play each of the celebrated courses twice, get a 30% discount on any further guest green fees, and enjoy complimentary fourballs at two of our other Top 100 Britain and Ireland stars in Ireland’s Trump Doonbeg and Trump International Scotland in Aberdeen.

But there’s far more to the Ailsa Club than golf. Having invested heavily in joining the club, you’ll make savings at the resort’s four restaurants with 20% off at 1906, The Grand Tea House, Duel in the Sun, and the revered Halfway House at the base of the famous lighthouse.

Tucking into one of the famous Haggis pies while watching players hit shots into the stunning par-3 9th (one of the best golf holes in Britain) will be even sweeter when you haven’t paid full price.

Turnberry’s culinary treats galore

Our stay included the ultimate dining experience – Chef’s Table – where guests sit around a beautifully designed table within the kitchen and watch as Executive Chef Ryan Murphy and his team prepare the food and talk you through each course (ours is below if you’re interested, but we’d recommend skipping if you’re feeling peckish). Renowned sommelier Sumith Alahakoon will select your wines based on the menu and your tastes and even keeps a record of members’ preferences for future visits.

Ailsa Club members also get 20% off all accommodation, but you won’t need that until you’ve used your four complimentary bed-and-breakfast stays in the resort’s five-star Edwardian hotel.

The famous hotel, which offers stunning views out to Arran and the Ailsa Craig, is one of the world’s finest having undergone a stunning multi-million-pound full refurbishment following Trump’s takeover in 2014. We were fortunate enough to experience one of the luxury front-of-hotel suites overlooking the courses, clubhouse, helipad and out to the Ailsa Craig, but there are a host of room options available, including accessible options, along with self-catering cottages.

If you can afford to be part of the club, you might even be able to afford one of the opulent chandeliers in the ballroom for your own home – they cost £250,000 each and there are eight of them!

Speaking of refurbishment, premium access to the award-winning Turnberry Spa, which recently underwent a huge redevelopment to cement its position among the best in the business, is also included. We’d recommend the specialized golf massage – perfect for easing the aches and pains we were feeling from overdoing the unlimited golf.

And the state-of-the-art fitness center, which is one of the best we’ve ever seen, was ideal for burning off the incredible breakfast selection, halfway house pies, luxury evening meals, and the various whiskies you’ll inevitably try.

Further work will see the famous Tom Watson Lounge on the first floor of the huge clubhouse converted into the exclusive Ailsa Club Lounge, where you and three guests can relax overlooking the Ailsa’s 18th (while inevitably remembering the Duel In The Sun and/or cursing Stewart Cink). You’ll enjoy complimentary food, drinks, and canapes, be able to enjoy a tipple of the personalized bottle of whisky every member receives upon joining, and look up at your name on the ‘Founding Fifty Members’ board.

If all that’s not enough for your money, you’ll also become a Trump Diamond Privilege Card Member and receive an exclusive membership box.

Ailsa Club options

The Ailsa Club has four membership packages – single, dual golf, couples and family. Single gives all the above benefits, along with 20% off tuition at the golf academy. Dual gives both members unrestricted golf and spa access, while couples’ membership provides one of the pair unlimited golf access and both members all of the other benefits.

Family membership gives the golfer of the family unlimited tee times and leaves the other adult and up to two children to enjoy the incredible benefits and facilities Turnberry has to offer with £4,000 of credit towards any Turnberry Adventures.

We took in horse riding and shooting during our stay, but you can also choose from archery, watersports, off-road driving and quad biking, or junior golf rounds and lessons.

For more details on the Ailsa Club visit www.turnberry.co.uk/membership

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About the author

Rob Jerram
Digital Editor

Rob Jerram is the Digital Editor of todays-golfer.com. He specializes in the DP World Tour, PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and the Ryder Cup, spending large chunks of his days reading about, writing about, and watching the tours each month.

He’s passionate about the equipment used by professional golfers and is also a font of knowledge when it comes to golf balls, golf trolleys, and golf bags, testing thousands down the years.

Rob has been a journalist for more than 23 years, starting his career with Johnston Press where he covered local and regional news and sport in a variety of editorial roles across ten years.

He joined Bauer Media in September 2010 and worked as the Senior Production Editor of Today’s Golfer and Golf World magazines for ten years before moving into the Digital Editor’s role in July 2020.

During his time in the golf industry, Rob has interviewed and played golf with some of the biggest names in the game, including Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie, and Rick Shiels. He’s traveled the world attending product launches and golf events and reported at both The Open and Ryder Cup.

He has been playing golf for almost three decades and is a member at Greetham Valley in Rutland and Spalding Golf Club in Lincolnshire, playing off a 9.7 handicap.

Away from golf, Rob enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, watching Peterborough United FC, going for long walks, flying his drone, cooking, and reading.

Rob uses a Callaway Paradym driver, TaylorMade M5 5-wood, TaylorMade P790 driving iron, Callaway Paradym irons (4-AW), TaylorMade MG3 wedges (52º, 58º), Odyssey Tri-Hot 5k Double Wide putter, and Callaway Chrome Soft X golf ball.

You can email Rob or get in touch with him on Twitter.