The R&A would like to see Donald Trump’s Turnberry course in Scotland return as host of the Open but will first need to assess the feasibility of the venue, the governing body’s chief executive, Mark Darbon, said.
Turnberry, a seaside course in South Ayrshire, has staged the Open four times – most recently in 2009 when American Stewart Cink edged past his compatriot Tom Watson to claim the title in a thrilling victory. Trump bought the property in 2014 and has spent £200m upgrading the resort’s courses.
In 2021, after the 6 January attack on the US Capitol by Trump supporters, the R&A said it would not stage championships at Turnberry “until we are convinced that the focus will be on the championship, the players and the course itself and we do not believe that is achievable in the current circumstances.”
But on Tuesday, Darbon said the body’s main concerns over returning to the venue are logistical rather than political.
“At Turnberry, there are definitely some logistical and commercial challenges that we face around the road, rail and accommodation infrastructure,” Darbon said. “We’re doing some feasibility work around what it would look like to return to that venue and the investment that it would require.”
Turnberry is a 30 minute drive from the nearest large town, Ayr, although there is limited rail service to nearby Girvan, a 10 minute drive from the course and hotel.
The 153rd edition of the Open, one of golf’s major championships, will take place from 13-20 July at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, with the R&A announcing on Tuesday that a record attendance of 278,000 fans is expected at the event.
“The last time we were there [Turnberry], I think we had just over 120,000 people,” Darbon said. “We’ve just announced that this summer we’re going to welcome nearly 280,000 people [at Royal Portrush]. A modern Open Championship is a large-scale event. What we know for sure is the golf course is brilliant, so at some point we’d love to be back there.”
Turnberry’s famous Ailsa Course is currently closed after it was seriously damaged earlier this year by pro-Palestinian protestors.