Donald Trump ‘completes Turnberry deal’

It is being widely reported this morning that Donald Trump has completed a deal to buy the Turnberry Resort.

Speculation has been rife for some weeks that the American tycoon has been in talks to buy the South Ayrshire resort from its Dubai-based owners Leisurecorp and, speaking to American golf journalist Joe Passov yesterday, Trump appeared to confirm the deal.

“It was an opportunity, as far as I was concerned,” Donald Trump told Passov. “Turnberry is considered one of the greatest courses in the world. It’s a special place. It’s an important place.”

Although the American declined to disclose how much the purchase cost him, it is being reported in various outlets that he shelled out in the region of £35m on the property.

Trump also told Passov that he has no plans to alter the famous Ailsa Course, which is, of course, on the Open rota. The links most recently hosted the championship in 2009 and is expected to be used again within the next decade. However, Trump told Passov: “The golf course itself is considered one of the greatest in the world. Some rate it as the best in the world. I’m not going to touch a thing unless the Royal and Ancient ask for it or approve it.

“I have the greatest respect for the R&A and for Peter Dawson. I won’t do anything to the golf course at all without their full stamp of approval.”

He added, however, that he has plans to upgrade the hotel and hasn’t ruled out the possibility of re-naming the property ‘Trump Turnberry’. You can read Passov’s story on golf.com in full here.

The rumours that Donald Trump might be interested in buying the resort intensified earlier this week, with this report by The Telegraph’s James Corrigan.

The deal comes just months after it was thought the US businessman had turned his back on Scotland after his opposition to a wind farm off the course of his Aberdeenshire golf development was rejected. Donald Trump, who has already opened an 18-hole course at the North East resort, immediately withdrew plans for a second course and shut down all plans for future development. He subsequently announced he had completed a deal to buy the struggling Doonbeg resort in Ireland.

Donald Trump’s Turnberry purchase: Your thoughts

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Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor