 Trump Turnberry logo  Trump Turnberry Golf Course, November 2016 | |
  Location in Scotland | |
 Interactive map of Trump Turnberry | |
| Club information | |
|---|---|
| 55°18′55″N04°49′58″W / 55.31528°N 4.83278°W /55.31528; -4.83278 | |
| Coordinates | 55°18′55″N04°49′58″W / 55.31528°N 4.83278°W /55.31528; -4.83278 |
| Location | Turnberry, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| Established | 1906, 120 years ago |
| Type | Private |
| Owned by | The Trump Organization |
| Total holes | 45 |
| Events hosted | The Open Championship (4) Senior Open Champ. (7) Women's British Open (1) Walker Cup (1) |
| Website | www |
| Ailsa Course | |
| Designed by | Willie Fernie, redesigned byMackenzie Ross 1949–51, redesigned by Martin Ebert 2015–16 |
| Par | 71 |
| Length | 7,448 yards (6,810 m) |
| King Robert the Bruce Course | |
| Designed by | Martin Ebert |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 7,204 yards (6,587 m) |
| Arran Course | |
| Par | 31 |
Trump Turnberry is a golf resort inTurnberry, South Ayrshire, located on theFirth of Clyde in southwestScotland. It comprises threelinks golf courses, a golf academy, afive-starJames Miller-designed hotel from 1906, along with lodge and cottage accommodations. Turnberry was a popular golf course and resort from its inception, made accessible because of theMaidens and Dunure Light Railway. It closed in both World Wars for military use, and there was concern it would not open followingWorld War II, but it was redesigned byMackenzie Ross and re-opened in 1951.
The course was the scene of the1977 Open Championship, whereTom Watson scored a close victory overJack Nicklaus. The property has been owned bythe Trump Organization since 2014,[1][2] who now brand the course Trump Turnberry.
The resort is 50 miles (80 km) south ofGlasgow, on theA719 just north of theA77, a major road from Glasgow toStranraer viaAyr. It is sited on headland along theFirth of Clyde, overlooking theIsle of Arran andAilsa Craig.[3]
The idea of the course came fromThe 3rd Marquess of Ailsa after the announcement of theMaidens and Dunure Light Railway in 1899. The line would follow the Ayrshire coastline fromAyr toGirvan. Lord Ailsa owned 175 acres (71 ha) of land at Turnberry Green, south ofMaidens, which was infertile and unsuitable for agriculture, and therefore an ideal golf course location.[4][5] He realised the newrailway would provide easy access for people wanting to visit a quality course. Following the construction of the line, he asked 1883 Open Championship winnerWillie Fernie to design a suitable course. Fernie designed an initial round of 13 holes in 1901, with a second-round following later.[4]
The hotel was designed by station architectJames Miller, whose other work includedGlasgow Central andStirling railway stations.[6] It was built adjacent to the railway, and opened concurrently with the station on 17 May 1906.[4] The course was intended to attract visitors from across Britain, and was advertised heavily in the national press.[4]
The property was used as anairbase during theFirst World War, and a landing strip built for this purpose still exists, now disused. TheRoyal Flying Corps (RFC) trained pilots in the arts ofaerial gunnery andcombat, and the Turnberry Hotel was used as a hospital for the wounded.[7] After the war, courses 1 and 2 were rebuilt and renamed "Ailsa" and "Arran".[8] A memorial to honour lost airmen was erected on the hill overlooking the ninth hole of Ailsa, which is still standing.[9]
The cycle was repeated during theSecond World War. The hotel was commissioned as a hospital, and the golf courses were seconded for air training for theRoyal Air Force (RAF); it is thought that as many as 200 died at the base.[7] Following the war, the course was in need of refurbishment and the hotel was in a dilapidated state. Frank Hole, chairman ofBritish Transport Hotels, convinced the British Government that golf courses should be rebuilt and restored. The architectMackenzie Ross rebuilt the course, removing the wartime runways and covering the land with sand and topsoil.[5][10] Ross is credited with restoring the courses to their high quality, and the Ailsa course was re-opened in 1951, a seaside links with views ofAilsa Craig and theIsle of Arran.[11]
The hotel and golf course was served by its own dedicated railway station.Turnberry railway station opened in 1906 and operated until 1942, when the Maidens and Dunure Light Railway line was partially closed.[12]
Starwood acquired the hotel in 1997, and until 2008, it was operated under theWestin Hotels & Resorts brand. In 2008,Leisurecorp,Dubai World's sport and leisure subsidiary, purchased the resort, with Starwood continuing to manage operations underThe Luxury Collection brand.[13][2]
Donald Trump purchased the hotel and golf courses from Leisurecorp in 2014 for $60 million,[14][15][16] and the resort was renamedTrump Turnberry.[17][18]
In 2006, theAberdeen Renewable Energy Group[19] began constructing, theEuropean Offshore Wind Deployment Centre an offshore wind farm with 11 turbines,[20] near this golf course.[21] By 2015, Trump had taken the fight against theEuropean Offshore Wind Deployment Centre to theSupreme Court of the United Kingdom.[22] In 2019, a court ruled against Trump and they must pay the Scottish government's legal bills.[21] The company objected because the proposed windfarm would be seen by people at the resort.[23][24]
2014-2019 Trump Turnberry total losses were $61 million[25] In 2018, Trump Turnberry resort lost 3.4 million UK pounds,[26] losing millions for a fourth consecutive year. In 2019, Trump Turnberry resort lost more than £2.3 million UK pounds.[27] In 2020, Trump Turnberry resort lost more than £5.3 million UK pounds.[27] In 2021, Trump Turnberry resort lost more than £3.7 million UK pounds.[28] In 2022, Trump Turnberry resort profits were £186,000.[29] In 2023, Trump Turnberry resort profits were £3.8 million.[29]
In 2017, Trump resigned his directorship of the companies which own Trump Turnberry just before he wasinaugurated as president of the United States, and passed control to his sonsDonald Jr andEric.[30] The Trump Organization claims to have spent about $200 million on renovating the course; $18 million were accounted for in 2016.[31] Donald Trump remains the owner of Golf Recreation Scotland, which in turn owns SLC Turnberry.[32]
Financing for Trump's golf courses in Ireland and Scotland came under scrutiny in theSpecial Counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections.[33][34]
In September 2019, it was reported that theHouse Oversight and Reform Committee of theUnited States Congress was investigating increased military expenditure atGlasgow Prestwick Airport that might constitute aconflict of interest in regard to the Trump Turnberry golf course.[35][36][37] It was reported in September 2019 that the Pentagon had spent nearly $200,000 at Turnberry since Trump took office, although stays byUnited States Air Force crews remained consistent compared to previous years with only 6% staying at Turnberry from 2015–2019.[38][39] A report released byAir Mobility Command in response to the investigation found no wrongdoing by its aircrews in acquiring accommodation around the Prestwick Airport.[39]
In February 2023, the company managing the golf course, SLC Turnberry Ltd., reported pre-tax losses of 3.7 million pounds ($4.57 million) in 2021.[40]
In March 2025, the course was vandalized by pro-Palestinian activists in protest of President Trump'sproposal to take over Gaza.Palestine Action took credit for the damage.[41]
On 27 July 2025, the United States and theEuropean Union concluded a trade agreement, providing for 15%tariffs on European exports. The deal was announced by President Trump and President of the European Commission,Ursula von der Leyen, at Turnberry.[42]
After the2021 United States Capitol attack, the organizer of the championship,The R&A, announced that The Open would not be held again at Turnberry as long as its links to the Trump Organization remain.[43][44] However, following Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. elections and presidential inauguration in January 2025, the newly hired CEO of The R&A stated that the organization was doing some "feasibility work" regarding a potential return to Turnberry.[45]
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The Ailsa Course, redesigned byMackenzie Ross between 1949 and 1951, and again by Martin Ebert between 2015 and 2016, has stagedThe Open Championship on four occasions (1977,1986,1994, and2009). It has also hosted many other important golf tournaments, including theWomen's British Open in2002, theWalker Cup in1963, theAmateur Championship in 1961, 1983, 1996, and 2008, and theSenior Open Championship on seven occasions, 1987–90, 2003, 2006, and 2012. The Ailsa Course is featured in the 2004 golf video gameTiger Woods PGA Tour 2005.
The other two courses at Turnberry are the King Robert the Bruce course and the nine-hole Arran course. The Kintyre Course, opened in 2001 and existed at the resort until it was replaced by the King Robert the Bruce course in 2017.[46] The Kintyre Course was designed by Donald Steel and built on the foundations of the old Arran layout, which had been rebuilt along with the Ailsa Course followingWorld War II. During the war, the resort was used as a hospital and the courses were flattened and paved for use as a majorRAFairfield.[47] The new Arran Course opened in 2002.
Other golf facilities at the resort include theColin Montgomerie Links Golf Academy and apitch and putt course.
In 2003, the 18th hole on the Ailsa Course, "Ailsa Hame", was renamed "Duel in the Sun" as homage to the battle betweenTom Watson andJack Nicklaus in1977;[48] this is also the name of a sports bar at the resort. In 2009, Watson, 59, held a one-shot lead when he bogeyed this hole in the final round, eventually losing the Open Championship in a playoff toStewart Cink.[49]
Turnberry Golf Courses and Resort have won/hold various awards including:
The official names are:[57]
| Hole | Yards (metres) | Par | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 441 (403) | 4 | Ailsa Craig | Named after the island |
| 2 | 425 (389) | 4 | Mak Siccar | Make sure |
| 3 | 496 (454) | 4 | Blaw Wearie | Out of breath |
| 4 | 194 (177) | 3 | Woe-Be-Tide | A warning about theFirth of Clyde |
| 5 | 531 (486) | 5 | Fin Me Oot | Find me out |
| 6 | 171 (156) | 3 | Tappie Toorie | Hit to the top |
| 7 | 476 (435) | 4 | Roon The Ben | Round the mountain |
| 8 | 454 (415) | 4 | Goat Fell | Named after the tallest peak on theIsle of Arran |
| 9 | 248 (227) | 3 | Bruce's Castle | Named afterTurnberry Castle, which is adjacent to the course |
| Out | 3,436 (3,142) | 34 | ||
| 10 | 565 (517) | 5 | Dinna Fouter | Don't mess about |
| 11 | 215 (197) | 3 | Maidens | Named after a small village near the course |
| 12 | 468 (428) | 4 | Monument | Named after the memorial to lost airmen from both World Wars |
| 13 | 409 (374) | 4 | Tickly Tap | Tricky little stroke |
| 14 | 568 (519) | 5 | Risk-An-Hope | Risk and hope |
| 15 | 234 (214) | 3 | Ca' Canny | Take care |
| 16 | 509 (465) | 4 | Wee Burn | Named afterWilson's burn, which runs in front of the green |
| 17 | 559 (511) | 5 | Lang Whang | Long whack |
| 18 | 485 (443) | 4 | Duel in the Sun (formerly Ailsa Hame) | Re-named in 2003 in reference to the contest betweenTom Watson andJack Nicklaus in the1977 Open.[48] |
| In | 4,012 (3,669) | 37 | ||
| Total | 7,448 (6,810) | 71 |
_Holes_10_and_12.jpg)
At its firstOpen Championship in1977, the course was the scene of the famous "Duel in the Sun",[58] whenTom Watson claimed a classic victory, one stroke ahead ofJack Nicklaus.[59]
The two were paired during the final two rounds and finished well ahead of the rest of the field. They posted identical scores for the first three rounds, and were tied through the 16th hole of the final round. Nicklaus missed a short birdie putt on the par-5 17th hole to tie Watson, who had reached in two and birdied. On the par-4 18th hole, Nicklaus recovered from the rough and sank a lengthy birdie putt, which forced Watson to sink his short birdie putt to win, which he did. It was the second of Watson's five Open titles; down two strokes on the 13th tee, he bested Nicklaus by three shots over the final six holes.[citation needed]
Nine years later in1986,Greg Norman claimed the first of his two Opens (his onlymajor titles), winning by five strokes.Nick Price won his second major (and only Open) in1994, a single stroke ahead of runner-upJesper Parnevik.[60]
After a fifteen-year absence, the Ailsa Course hosted the Open in2009, where 59-year-old Watson nearly won his sixth Open Championship. Up by a stroke at the 72nd hole, his approach shot took an unfortunate bounce on the front of the green, then ran off the back and led to a bogey. Watson then lost a four-hole playoff withStewart Cink by six strokes; Cink birdied the 72nd hole and then posted two pars and two birdies in the playoff to win his only major title.[citation needed]
In 2015, the governing body for Golf,The R&A, announced that the 2020 Open Championship would not be played at Turnberry, even though it had previously been considered likely to host the tournament. The R&A were unimpressed with several remarks by Donald Trump; one member said he would like Turnberry to host the Open again, but "not Trump Turnberry".[61][62] In February 2018 the U.S. Ambassador to Britain,Robert Wood "Woody" Johnson IV, told colleagues that he had been instructed by then-President Trump to seek British government help in securing the British Open for Turnberry. Although advised not to do so by his deputy,Lewis Lukens, he reportedly did suggest to David Mundell, the Secretary of State for Scotland, that the Open be moved to Turnberry. However, a later British government statement said that Johnson "made no request of Mr. Mundell regarding the British Open or any other sporting event."[63]
Following the2021 storming of the United States Capitol, the R&A announced that it had no plans to stage any of its competitions at Turnberry and would not do so "until we are convinced that the focus will be on the championship, the players and the course itself".[64]
The Open Championship winners at Turnberry, all played on the par-70 Ailsa Course:
| Year | Winner | Score | Winner's share (£) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Total | |||
| 1977 |  Tom Watson2nd | 68 | 70 | 65 | 65 | 268 (−12) | 10,000 |
| 1986 |  Greg Norman1st | 74 | 63 | 74 | 69 | 280 (Even) | 70,000 |
| 1994 |  Nick Price | 69 | 66 | 67 | 66 | 268 (−12) | 110,000 |
| 2009 | Stewart Cink | 66 | 72 | 71 | 69 | 278 (−2)PO | 750,000 |
Winners ofThe Senior Open Championship at Turnberry.
| Year | Winner | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Neil Coles |  England | 279 (−1) |
| 1988 | Gary Player |  South Africa | 272 (−8) |
| 1989 | Bob Charles |  New Zealand | 269 (−11) |
| 1990 | Gary Player | South Africa | 280 (Even) |
| 2003 | Tom Watson |  United States | 263 (−17)PO |
| 2006 | Loren Roberts | United States | 274 (−6)PO |
| 2012 | Fred Couples | United States | 271 (−9) |
Winner of theWomen's British Open at Turnberry.
| Year | Winner | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Karrie Webb | Australia | 273 (−15) |
| 2015 | Inbee Park |  South Korea | 276 (−12) |
The Ailsa Course was played as a par-72 at 6,407 yards (5,859 m) in 2002;[65] and played marginally longer at 6,410 yards (5,860 m) in 2015.[66]
Citations
In December, the Turnberry course also lost a controversial tax break from the Scottish government, The Guardian reported. Scottish Finance Secretary Derek Mackay was pressured to make the changes after it was revealed earlier in the year that the Trump property had kept more than $140,000 a year due to a business rates relief scheme.
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