Donald Trump is bringing big changes to the world of golf — or at least he’s trying to. UK government officials have allegedly asked the R&A about bringing the Open Championship back to Trump’s Turnberry course in 2028. This comes after Donald Trump repeatedly asked for it, even discussing it with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The potential return could significantly benefit SLC Turnberry, which operates the course and reported a £1.7 million loss last year, despite making a £571,000 profit the previous year – its only profit in a decade. But is everyone on board with the potential return? Well, not so much.
Speaking on the latest YouTube episode of Golf Channel, Ryan Lavner discussed the possibility of the Open Championship returning to Trump Turnberry. The resort, owned by Donald Trump since 2014, hasn’t hosted the event since 2009. Lavner believes it’s unlikely the Open will be held at Turnberry anytime soon due to several factors. “No, and it’s a shame because the golf course itself is magnificent, particularly after the renovation they had a couple of years ago.” Trump Turnberry has undergone several renovations, with Trump Organization reportedly spending around $200 million, but the course’s financial performance has been lackluster, with pre-tax losses of £3.7 million ($4.57 million) in 2021.
The remote location lacks proper infrastructure and transportation, which would hinder the event’s success. Additionally, the 2009 Open Championship at Turnberry saw lower-than-expected spectator turnout, impacting the Royal and Ancient Golf Club’s (R&A) revenue. “Secondly, in 2009, the golf course accommodated roughly half of the spectators they expected… That’s obviously not ideal for the R&A, being in the money-making business.”
The main obstacle, however, is Donald Trump’s association with the resort. As the US president, Trump’s ownership raises concerns about maintaining focus on the competition. Martin Slumbers, former head of the R&A, stated that the organization wouldn’t consider hosting the Open at Trump Turnberry until the focus shifts from the golf course owner to the competition. Given these challenges, it seems the R&A will likely avoid hosting the event at Turnberry to steer clear of potential controversy. “Martin Slumbers, the ex-head of the R&A, was clear that they wouldn’t take the Open to Trump Turnberry until they’re sure the focus will be on the competition, not the golf course owner. Given these obstacles, it seems most likely they’ll avoid the circus altogether.”
WASHINGTON D.C, – MARCH 4: President Donald J. Trump delivers his first State of the Union address after his 2024 presidential election to the Joint Session of Congress in Washington DC on March 4, 2025. Copyright: xPatsyxLynchx
Well, Slumbers did say it, back in 2021, that the Open wouldn’t be returning to Turnberry “until we are convinced that the focus will be on the championship, the players and the course itself,” referencing Trump’s ownership, but the new CEO does not seem to share the same beliefs.
Martin Slumbers’s words clash with R&A’s current Chief Executive
Mark Darbon, the new CEO of the R&A, has expressed interest in having Turnberry return as a host of The Open Championship. “What we know for sure is the golf course is brilliant, so at some point we’d love to be back there,” Darbon said. However, the R&A will first check if the venue is suitable, looking at issues like roads, trains, and places to stay.“At Turnberry, there are definitely some logistical and commercial challenges that we face around the road, rail and accommodation infrastructure,” Darbon told British media.
The R&A is conducting feasibility work to determine the investment required for Turnberry to host The Open again. Darbon noted that Royal Portrush is expected to attract a record 278,000 fans, a significant increase from the 120,000 attendees at Turnberry’s last Open in 2009.“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 here [at Royal Portrush]. A modern Open Championship is a large-scale event.” This development comes after Martin Slumbers stepped down as CEO, with Darbon taking over and potentially paving a different path for the organization. So, what are your thoughts on the matter? Do you share Darbon’s sentiments? Let us know in the comment section below!
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