Trump Turnberry to Become UK's Most Expensive Golf Course with £1,000 Green Fee
Trump Turnberry to Become UK's Most Expensive Golf Course with £1,000 Green Fee
Former President Donald Trump’s Turnberry Resort to Charge Premium Rates for Peak Tee Times Starting June 2024
One of the golf courses in Scotland, owned by former U.S. President Donald Trump, is set to become the most expensive in the UK, charging up to £1,000 ($1,290) for a single round.
Trump Turnberry will implement this fee at peak times starting next June. This rate will apply to golfers who are not staying at the luxury South Ayrshire resort's five-star hotel and spa and wish to tee off before 1:00 PM.
The resort stated that the price hike is designed to reserve key tee times for its members and hotel guests.
Nic Oldham, Trump Turnberry's general manager, explained to Bunkered magazine,
"Staying at the hotel and playing the Ailsa will cost slightly less than £1,000, so it’s more economical that way."
He added,
"This offers a full five-star experience for the golfer, which benefits both the guest and Turnberry. Unlike other venues that have hosted The Open, Turnberry is a complete resort, so we must ensure that all aspects of our business are sustainable. Solely selling rounds of golf isn’t a viable business model."
Turnberry is consistently ranked among the top five golf courses globally. It has hosted The Open Championship four times, including the 1977 tournament where Tom Watson famously defeated Jack Nicklaus in the "Duel In The Sun."
However, since Trump acquired the resort in 2014, Turnberry has been excluded from The Open schedule. Prior to its 2016 reopening, playing the Ailsa course cost golfers around £150 ($195).
In comparison, here are some of the other top-priced green fees at UK courses:
Kingsbarns, Fife - £374
Muirfield, East Lothian - £325
Royal Troon, North Ayrshire - £315
Royal Lytham and St Anne's, Lancashire - £305
Sunningdale, Berkshire - £300
Royal Birkdale, Merseyside - £300
Royal County Down - £300
Some golf enthusiasts have voiced concerns on social media, accusing Trump Turnberry of excluding ordinary golfers due to the high cost.
However, Michael McEwan, deputy editor of Bunkered magazine, told BBC's Good Morning Scotland that this claim is "simply not true."
He said,
"I’m not defending a £1,000 green fee – it’s a significant sum for anyone. It’s the highest in the UK and among the highest in the world. But even Turnberry doesn’t expect many to pay that. Instead, they're ensuring that the most sought-after tee times are available to their members and hotel guests, who might otherwise miss out because others are paying for those slots and then leaving."
The Turnberry resort underwent extensive renovations after Trump purchased it from a Dubai-based company in 2014. It draws thousands of amateur golfers from around the globe annually, particularly from the USA and Japan.
McEwan added,
"Turnberry is a five-star resort offering a five-star experience. The golf course is exceptional, with beautiful design, impeccable maintenance, and stunning views."
In addition to Turnberry, Donald Trump also developed a golf resort at the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire, which opened in 2012. He handed over control of both courses to his sons before taking office in 2017, though he retains a financial interest.
Thanks for reading, David Skilling
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