The R&A want to see Donald Trump’s Turnberry course in Scotland return as host of the Open however will first must assess the feasibility of the venue, the governing physique’s chief government, Mark Darbon, stated.
Turnberry, a seaside course in South Ayrshire, has staged the Open 4 instances – most lately in 2009 when American Stewart Cink edged previous his compatriot Tom Watson to say the title in an exhilarating victory. Trump purchased the property in 2014 and has spent £200m upgrading the resort’s programs.
In 2021, after the 6 January assault on the US Capitol by Trump supporters, the R&A stated it might not stage championships at Turnberry “till we’re satisfied that the main target will probably be on the championship, the gamers and the course itself and we don’t imagine that’s achievable within the present circumstances.”
However on Tuesday, Darbon stated the physique’s principal considerations over returning to the venue are logistical relatively than political.
“At Turnberry, there are undoubtedly some logistical and business challenges that we face across the highway, rail and lodging infrastructure,” Darbon stated. “We’re performing some feasibility work round what it might appear like to return to that venue and the funding that it might require.”
Turnberry is a 30 minute drive from the closest massive city, Ayr, though there’s restricted rail service to close by Girvan, a ten minute drive from the course and resort.
The 153rd version of the Open, one among golf’s main championships, will happen from 13-20 July at Royal Portrush in Northern Eire, with the R&A saying on Tuesday {that a} document attendance of 278,000 followers is anticipated on the occasion.
“The final time we have been there [Turnberry], I feel we had simply over 120,000 individuals,” Darbon stated. “We’ve simply introduced that this summer season we’re going to welcome practically 280,000 individuals [at Royal Portrush]. A contemporary Open Championship is a large-scale occasion. What we all know for certain is the golf course is sensible, so in some unspecified time in the future we’d like to be again there.”
Turnberry’s well-known Ailsa Course is at the moment closed after it was significantly broken earlier this yr by pro-Palestinian protestors.
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