The R&A just shared their take on the idea that President Donald Trump’s Turnberry course will be hosting The Open Championship anytime soon. And the official line? It’s not politics — it’s parking.
According to Mark Darbon, the fresh new chief executive of the R&A, Turnberry hasn’t been blacklisted or boycotted. Nope — it’s just facing “logistical challenges.” Translation? The roads are bad, the train situation’s worse, and there’s not enough lodging nearby for the sea of fans and media that flood an Open venue. That’s the story, and Darbon’s sticking to it.
“We Love the Course… But”
Let’s not get it twisted — the R&A loves Turnberry. Everyone does. It’s one of the most visually stunning links in the world, perched dramatically along Scotland’s Ayrshire coast with views so good they might just knock the dimples off your golf ball. This is the same course that gave us the epic “Duel in the Sun” in 1977, with Tom Watson edging out Jack Nicklaus. Pure history. Pure drama.
But here’s the problem: the modern Open is a behemoth. The scale is off the charts. We’re talking nearly 278,000 fans at Royal Portrush this week. Meanwhile, Turnberry’s roads? Think charming country lanes, not high-volume highways. Rail access? Barely there. Hotels? Book early and bring a tent.
Darbon confirmed that the R&A met with Eric Trump and the Trump Golf team recently, and he described the talks as “constructive.” He said the Trumps understand the challenges. So there’s no door slammed shut here — just a really heavy one that needs infrastructure muscle to open again.
Politics in the Rough?
Now, let’s not pretend politics isn’t lingering in the rough like a bad bounce. Former R&A boss Martin Slumbers had previously made it clear that they wouldn’t bring The Open back to Turnberry until they could guarantee the focus stayed on golf, not the individual who owns the venue. That’s a tough ask when that guy’s name is spelled in giant letters across the hotel — and he is actively in the White House.
There’s even speculation that Trump could pressure the British government to assist him. But Darbon made it plain: “They’ve made it clear the decision around where we take our championship rests with us.” Translation: Trump can make a fuss, but the R&A holds the tee time.
Muirfield’s In Limbo Too
And if you thought Turnberry was the only iconic venue sitting out, think again. Muirfield — one of the crown jewels of Scottish golf — hasn’t hosted since 2013. That’s a long break for a course that’s held The Open 16 times since 1892. Why? You guessed it: infrastructure. The R&A needs space, practice areas, crowd capacity, and modern logistics. Muirfield’s still in talks, but it needs to evolve to stay in the rotation.
Bottom line? The R&A’s making decisions based on size, access, and spectacle — and if you can’t handle 250,000 fans and global media, you’re on the bench, even if your course is legendary, even if your last name is Trump.
So, will Turnberry ever return to the Open rota? It’s possible — but don’t expect an invite until the roads are widened, the trains are rolling, and the headlines are about birdies, not billionaires.
