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Turnberry’s famous Ailsa Course will not open as planned on 1 May after serious damage caused to the Ayrshire venue – owned by the US president, Donald Trump – by a pro-Palestine group. Tour operators and those with individual bookings at Turnberry are in the process of being informed it will be June before the Ailsa, which is routinely ranked among the finest golf courses in the world, is available for play.
The clubhouse at the Ayrshire resort was daubed with graffiti and red paint in the early hours of 8 March. More significant in respect of the championship course – that has staged the Open on four occasions – was the ripping up of greens and on turf approaching them. The course has been closed since October due to planned renovation of the 7th and 8th holes.
In a statement provided to the Guardian, Nic Oldham, general manager of Trump Turnberry, said: “The reopening of the Ailsa Course has been delayed due to recent vandalism. While the redesigned holes are ready for play and look spectacular, we now need to restore other areas of the courses to provide the premium playing conditions our members and guests expect from one of the world’s top-ranked links.
“Our team is working closely with all parties to minimise any disruption during this time. We look forward to having the iconic Ailsa Course better than ever when it reopens in June.”
The economic impact of this delay is likely to be sharp. Tee times for later in the summer are listed at £1,000 per head on Turnberry’s website for non-residents. With neighbouring Ayrshire courses known to be encountering a busy spell, there will be an inevitable knock-on impact for golf tourism.
Trump has labelled those responsible for the damage as “terrorists” before adding that he hopes they would be “treated harshly” by the Scottish justice system. Trump also wrongly claimed that three people were in prison as a result of police inquiries. A 33-year-old man was charged over the incident and appeared at Ayr sheriff court on Monday. Kieran Robson was charged with malicious mischief and made no plea during the brief hearing. He was released on bail pending a further court appearance. Another man, aged 75, and a 66-year-old woman were arrested and released pending further inquiries.
Trump bought Turnberry from a Dubai-based group in 2014. Despite a stated aim of returning the Open to the Ailsa – which last staged the major in 2009 – Trump has met stiff opposition from the tournament organisers, the R&A. There is no indication of that stance changing despite Mark Darbon being appointed as the R&A’s new chief executive.
