So when a group of businessmen were looking for someone to design a lay-out on a rolling stretch of abandoned farmland and a disused landfill site alongside the Rainford by-pass they called in the 48-year-old Leyland-based professional.
Turner, who lost two stone and completed the equivalent of 102 marathons as he pounded the fairways of Britain, Ireland and Spain, jumped at the chance to leave his own imprint on the North West National.
"I could not resist the challenge," he said. "I'm not a qualified architect but I have gleaned enough experience through playing about 700 courses in my career to give me plenty of ideas to incorporate in the plan."
He drew up a blueprint for the multi-million pound project, including a teaching academy and driving range, which is on schedule to be completed in 2009.
And despite many clubs in the area suffering from a shortage of members as pay-and-play centres provide cheaper alternatives, Turner has no worries about the wisdom of opening up another one.
"We've done our research and concluded that there was a need for a quality course. Golf is changing and people are expecting a little bit more from what they're used to.
"This will be a private club and we're confident we will attract about 650 members with subscriptions in the region of about £1,000," said Turner who has also been appointed golf director.
"There are a lot of professional footballers and celebrities who have indicated they will join but they won't be getting free memberships as they do at some clubs.
"We'll also be open 52 weeks a year because the there's three feet of black peat underfoot so there will be no drainage problems."
The bulldozers are charging up and down the land designated for the academy, which will employ four PGA teaching professionals, but much of the 7,000-yard course sprawling over 268 acres, has been sculptured by Mother Nature.
Oaks
"We're planting a lot of mature trees, including oaks, and building a few water hazards but apart from tees and greens we're not having to moved massive mounds of earth.
"It's all natural," added Turner, a scratch golfer since he was 17.
The club has derived its name from the Grand National.
"Every hole will be named after a fence at Aintree," he explained.
He has already identified the signature hole as the Canal Turn seventh, a 575-yard dog leg par five with water running down one side and an elevated green rising above a series of ponds.
The clubhouse will be converted from a huge stone barn.
LANCASHIRE finished top of the class in the Northern Schools' Championship at Chorley as they also took the leading three places in the individual stakes.
Paul Howard, from Southport and Ainsdale, fired a brace of 68s for a four-under-par total with the host club's Tom Stuart in second spot two behind him.
DIDSBURY'S Jane Ridley won the Manchester LGA Bunty Booth final at Reddish Vale with a 72 off her 23 handicap and by two shots from Tytherington's Sue Bury.
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