Turnberry 'surpasses' Shadow Creek as most expensive round in the world

17/08/2024 16:59

It is an open secret that Trump-owned Turnberry has been itching to perform an upgrade in a bid to put the historic course back in contention for a return to the Open rota.

The resort on which the course is located had made some progress towards being in a position where they might be able to afford an extensive upgrade.

However, with a return to the Open Championship far from guaranteed even if the improvements are performed, Turnberry has opted to hike its peak green fees to astronomical levels in order to facilitate the renovation.

With a round costing up to £1,000, the Scottish golf course owned by former US President Donald Trump is poised to become the most costly in the UK.

Beginning in June of next year, Trump Turnberry intends to implement a spiked green fee during certain peak hours.

It will be applicable to players who wish to tee off before 13:00 but are not staying at the five-star hotel and spa at the South Ayrshire resort.

The resort claims that by taking this action, it hopes to safeguard members’ and hotel guests’ tee times.

“Staying in the hotel and playing the Ailsa will come in some way under £1,000, so it's better value to do it that way,” Trump Turnberry general manager Nic Oldham told Bunkered magazine.

“That's better for the golfer, because they're getting a full five-star experience, but it's also better for Turnberry.

"We are unique amongst venues that have hosted The Open in that we are a complete resort and, therefore, we need to make sure all parts of our business are viable.

“Simply selling rounds of golf isn't a sustainable business model."

Bunkered magazine’s deputy editor Michael McEwan defended Turnberry against accusations of pricing ordinary golfers out of the game.

“I'm not going to defend having to pay a £1,000 green fee – it is a huge amount of money for anybody to pay.

“It is the most expensive in the UK and it is up there with the most expensive in the world. But even Turnberry themselves aren't expecting people to pay that,” McEwan said.

“Rather, what they are doing is protecting those key and most desired tee times for their members and would-be hotel residents who otherwise won't be able to play the course because people are paying to access the course at that time and then just simply leaving.

“Turnberry is a five-star resort, it's a five-star experience. The golf course is quite exceptional. It's beautifully designed, phenomenally maintained, it has exceptional views.

“The majority of golf course rankings around the world have it in the top five, and in some cases within the top one or two. So we are talking about the absolute best of the best here.”

Trump’s flagship Scottish property has engaged the help of specialists to push ahead with ambitious plans to revamp one of the country’s most historic golf courses in the goal of convincing one of the sport’s governing bodies to grant Trump’s long-held desire to host the coveted Open Championship.

According to sources, the R&A’s biggest worries are security threats and likely protests.

Turnberry is one of seven Scottish courses that have hosted the Open, most recently in 2009.

In 2015, Turnberry hosted the Women's British Open, however that was awarded to the club before Trump's purchase of the historic venue.

According to rumours, Turnberry, which has previously The Open four times, will not hold it again while Trump owns the club.

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