The conversation surrounding The Open Championship’s potential return to Turnberry is heating up, with R&A officials, including CEO Mark Darbon, engaging with Eric Trump, the son of the former U.S. President, to explore the possibility. The iconic Ailsa Course at Turnberry, renowned for its stunning views and challenging play, last hosted the championship in 2009, just prior to Trump acquiring the resort. This venue has a rich history, attracting around 120,000 spectators during that 2009 event.
Fast forward to this week’s Open at Royal Portrush, which is set to welcome approximately 280,000 fans, showcasing the growing popularity of the championship. While Darbon emphasized their affection for the Turnberry course, he noted significant logistical hurdles that need to be addressed before it can return to the roster of venues. “We love the golf course,” he stated. “We’ve not taken it out of our pool of venues – but we have some big logistical issues there.”
The R&A is keen to meet the demand for tickets, reflected in the staggering 1.2 million applications for this year’s championship. However, Darbon clarified that their goal isn’t solely about expanding the audience but about enhancing the overall experience: “It’s not about just being bigger. It’s about being better.”
Darbon disclosed that discussions with the UK Government about Turnberry are ongoing, acknowledging the significant economic impact that The Open has in the regions it inhabits—this year alone, they expect to generate more than £210 million. He assured that while the UK Government has expressed interest in the potential of Turnberry, the ultimate decisions about venues remain firmly in the hands of the R&A. “They know choices around venues are at our whim,” he remarked, making it clear that the ball is in their court.
As questions arose about the implications of Trump’s ownership, Darbon kept his response open-ended. “It’s a somewhat hypothetical question,” he explained, indicating that the primary concern is the logistical challenges currently at play. He even mentioned the constructive dialogue he recently had with Eric Trump, outlining the considerations the R&A faces.
The conversation about Turnberry has been complicated by historical statements from Darbon’s predecessor, Martin Slumbers, who suggested that the focus on the tournament might detract if Trump was still associated with the venue, particularly highlighting fears of “media noise.”
On the Trump camp side of things, there’s confidence that the logistical issues can be overcome, claiming that the infrastructure surrounding Turnberry is comparable to other major championship courses. The meeting between Eric Trump and R&A officials has sparked optimism that The Open could see a return there by 2028.
The future of The Open is also shaping up to be intriguing, with Royal Birkdale set to host in 2026 and St Andrews returning in 2027. With 2028 approaching, there’s an interesting twist on the horizon: the scheduling clash with the Los Angeles Olympic Games in July 2028. Darbon hinted that solutions are on the way, and there’s even talk of considering Portmarnock in the Republic of Ireland as a potential venue—a historic first for The Open, moving it beyond the UK.
As Darbon aptly put it, the R&A is “knee deep in feasibility work” and has found encouraging support from the Irish Government. With developments like these on the horizon, the future landscape of The Open Championship is shaping up to be as unpredictable and exciting as a final round on the golf course itself.
