Trump takes over the reins at Turnberry
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American business tycoon Donald Trump is celebrating after snapping up Scotland’s legendary Turnberry Resort for a cut-price deal of £35m.
The world-famous South Ayrshire venue – tipped to host its fifth Open Championship in the next 10 years – was owned by Leisurecorp, a subsidiary of the Dubai government who paid nearly £60m for it.
“It is an honour and privilege to own one of golf’s greatest and most exciting properties. I intend to invest many millions of dollars (pounds) in order to bring the hotel to the highest levels of luxury. When completed, I believe that the Turnberry Hotel will be the finest and most luxurious hotel in all of Europe,” said Trump.
He added: “It was an opportunity as far as I was concerned. Turnberry is considered one of the greatest courses in the world. It’s a special place, an important place.
“Some of the greatest championships in the history of golf have taken place at Turnberry and the golf course itself is considered one of the greatest in the world. Some rate it as the best in the world. This is a fabulous property in a great location.”
Turnberry marks the 17th property in the prestigious Trump Golf Portfolio and will be the second major golf resort acquisition made by Trump in the last three months, the other being the 500 acre Doonbeg Resort in Ireland.
Known as one of the finest and most historic courses in the world, the Alisa Championship Course is unparalleled with its beauty and spectacular views.
Many regard it as one of the world’s best and almost everyone agrees that the views are the best in all of golf. The rugged South Ayrshire coastline is totally unique and is what sets Turnberry apart from all others.
Turnberry’s Ailsa Course has hosted four Opens, including Tom Watson’s ‘Duel in the Sun’ triumph over Jack Nicklaus in 1977.
The purchase means Trump will realise his ambition of hosting a major championship – he initially had high hopes of staging an Open at his breathtaking Trump International Golf Links just outside Aberdeen but has shelved plans to build an on-site hotel following approval for an offshore windfarm. A furious and frustrated Trump claimed the development would have a negative impact on the views from his proposed luxury hotel rooms.
As a result he announced the Trump Oganisation would be focusing ‘all of our investment and energy’ on Doonbeg in County Clare, renamed Trump International Golf Links Ireland, which he purchased earlier in the year.
Turnberry’s new name is to be decided but The Donald admits ‘Trump Turnberry’ has a ring to it….
