In a blog here a little over a couple of months ago, I referred to the aspirations President Trump has that his course at Turnberry would soon host the Open Championship for a fifth time – the first while under his ownership. The earliest year not yet allocated a venue is 2028, which will be 19 years after the Ayrshire links last staged golf’s most venerable championship. If it still seems unlikely, the noise around the topic (as is so often the case when one is dealing with Donald Trump) has got louder.
It seems that every time the prime minister, Keir Starmer, calls him to talk about Ukraine or something important, Trump mentions the words ‘Open’ and ‘Turnberry’ in the same sentence. Officials from the Department of Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) have had discussions with the R&A. The Times quoted a source saying: “The government is doing everything it can to get close to Trump.” Yes, it seems we really want that trade deal. For his part, Trump has recently had the 7th hole recrafted as part of what are indisputably the improvements he has made to the links since he acquired it.
There are problems, of course. Also in The Times, Hugo Rifkind wrote: “Giving the guy a state visit might be weak, but giving him a golf tournament would be dirty.” I get that. Mark Darbon, the chief executive of the R&A, has pointed out that there are significant logistical problems associated with holding the Open an Turnberry, not least as regards rail and road links and hotel accommodation. I get that, too, and understand that the government is not flush with funds right now. On the other hand, Trump’s ‘oligarch’ pals – such as Messrs Bezos, Musk and Zuckerberg – could easily pony up whatever billions might be required.
Darbon’s predecessor, Martin Slumbers, had previously cited the unpleasantness at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, as contributing to the reasons why the Open would not return to Turnberry any time soon. I get that, also, although I guess the view of the present American administration is now that that was ‘a good thing’. There have, furthermore, been suggestions that to award Turnberry the Open would violate the US constitution by breaching an emoluments clause which prohibits federal officials from receiving benefits from foreign entities. My guess is that Mr Trump wouldn’t care less about that.
Despite the reasons why it shouldn’t happen in these circumstances (although one day, if not before Trump is gone, Turnberry will surely host the Open again), suppose the course does get the Open in 2028? If we do take the low road, the government should perhaps heed a remark by Marina Hyde in The Guardian, that “no world leader has ever got anything out of inviting Trump into their gifting suite, yet they keep doing it…”
Fair point. So if this does come to pass, maybe the R&A should consider doubling down (a popular phrase in contemporary politics) and award Turnberry – or Trump’s links at Aberdeen! – the Open in say 2033 as well. To keep him honest. You know, just in case…
You can follow Robert Green on Twitter @robrtgreen and enjoy his other blog f-factors.com as well as his golf archive on robertgreen-golf.com
