Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf course may be a masterpiece of design, but it won’t be hosting The Open Championship in the foreseeable future. The R&A, the tournament’s governing body, has quietly blacklisted the Scottish resort, largely due to the political and security concerns tied to its high-profile owner.
Trump has long championed Turnberry as a worthy Open venue, touting its recent $200 million renovation and calling it Europe’s top-ranked course. Yet, the R&A has consistently passed it over, fearing disruptions from protests or backlash given Trump’s divisive legacy.
Despite endorsements from golf luminaries and Trump’s own confidence in the course’s merits, the organization has prioritized stability over spectacle. For now, Turnberry remains in golf’s elite—just not elite enough to overcome its owner’s polarizing shadow.
