Information on Trump's Scottish golf enterprise and British Open venture during his foreign travel
In the realm of golf, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (The R&A) has been contemplating the prospect of hosting the British Open at Trump Turnberry, a course situated along the picturesque coastline of Ayrshire, Scotland. However, no official commitment has been made by The R&A regarding a future event at the Trump-owned course.
The last time Turnberry hosted the Open was back in 2009, five years before the Trump Organization took possession of the property in 2014. Mark Darbon, the R&A’s CEO, has acknowledged the course as a potential venue but has highlighted significant logistical challenges, such as road, rail, and accommodation infrastructure, that need to be addressed before the Open can return to Turnberry.
Darbon has engaged in constructive discussions with Eric Trump and Trump Golf leaders, as he continues to explore the possibility of hosting the prestigious tournament at Turnberry. Despite these talks, the R&A has already selected venues through 2027, leaving 2028 as the soonest potential Open at Turnberry during Trump's presidency, but no decision has yet been made.
Following the January 6 Capitol attack, the R&A stated that it had "no plans" to stage the Open at Turnberry and would not do so "in the foreseeable future," expressing concerns about the focus on the championship and the course under current circumstances.
President Trump, meanwhile, has reported hundreds of millions in income from his various properties, including golf clubs and his Mar-a-Lago estate and club. The Trump Organization is also involved in a cryptocurrency venture connected to a fund with ties to the Emirati government.
As Trump prepares for his fourth international trip of his second term this week, he is expected to visit Scotland, where he owns two golf resorts in Turnberry and Aberdeenshire, and is expected to open another course at the latter. The White House has described Trump's visit as a "working trip," with a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Starmer and a press conference scheduled while overseas.
Ethics experts have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest between Trump's official activities and his family's business interests. The Trump Organization's assets are held in a trust managed by his children, and administration officials have long denied any conflict of interest.
The Trump Organization has expanded its business interests in the Middle East, partnering with developers on new projects in Saudi Arabia, Doha, and the United Arab Emirates. In 2020, it was confirmed that Woody Johnson, then-U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, was asked by Trump if he could persuade the British government to hold the British Open golf tournament at Turnberry.
Our website has reached out to the Trump Organization for a statement regarding the potential hosting of the British Open at Turnberry. As the discussions continue, it remains to be seen whether Turnberry will indeed host the Open in the near future, and if so, how the logistical challenges will be addressed.
- Mark Darbon, the CEO of The R&A, has expressed interest in hosting the British Open at Trump Turnberry, but has also outlined significant logistical challenges, such as infrastructure, that need to be addressed.
- Eric Trump and other Trump Golf leaders have engaged in discussions with Mark Darbon about potentially hosting the British Open at Turnberry, but no official commitment has been made by The R&A.
- Following the January 6 Capitol attack, The R&A stated that it had no plans to stage the Open at Turnberry in the foreseeable future, expressing concerns about the focus on the championship under current circumstances.
- The Trump Organization has been expanding its business interests in international industries such as golf, real estate, and cryptocurrency, including partnerships in Saudi Arabia, Doha, the UAE, and Scotland.
- Ethics experts have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest between President Trump's official activities and his family's business interests, especially as the Trump Organization's assets are held in a trust managed by his children.
- Despite concerns and no official commitment from The R&A, it remains to be seen whether Turnberry will host the British Open in the near future and how the logistical challenges will be addressed, as discussions continue.
