Donald Trump's turnberry is faced with logistical hurdles to return open

Distrush, Northern Ireland – President Donald Trump does not receive an open championship for the turnberry course, which he has in the near future. The new managing director of R&A said more about transport on Wednesday than about politics.

Turnberry is considered the most beautiful of the links in the open rotation that is set along the Ayrshire Coast in Scotland opposite Ailsa Craig. It was last hosting the open in 2009 before Trump bought the resort.

Mark Darbon, who took over the R&A from Martin Slumbers this year, said that Turnberry was not taken from the list of potential open locations, but that transport and other problems would have to be addressed.

“I think we were very clear about Turnberry. We love the golf course, but we have some big logistical challenges there,” he said. “You see the extent of your setup here, and we have some work on the street, the rail and accommodation infrastructure around Turnberry.”

Darbon said that the R&A was hit by Eric Trump and other Trump Golf with Eric Trump a few months ago and that the conversations were constructive.

“I think you understand where we come from. We have discussed some of the challenges we have, so we have a good dialogue with you,” he said.

Slumbers had previously said that the R&A would not go to Turnberry until it was comfortable that the focus would be on the Golf and not on the owner.

Turnberry organized the Open Championship four times in 1977 with the famous “Duel in the Sun” as Tom Watson Jack Nicklaus. But the open ones are getting bigger and the streets are limited to reach turnberry.

There was speculation that Trump, whose golf courses have never organized a men's major, could ask the British government to bring the open back to turnberry.

“We have an ongoing dialogue with the British government because we are a big event that creates a significant value in the British economy,” said Darbon. “We spoke specifically to you about Turnberry, and I think you have made it clear that the decision in which we take our championship lies with us.

“I would find it difficult to predict whether there will be a discussion about the open discussion if the President makes a visit here.”

Turnberry is not the only Scottish links that are handed over by R&A. Muirfield, which is located along the Firth Ost of Edinburgh, is regarded as the purest left -wing courses. The first openings were in 1892 and there were 15 more, most recently won by Phil Mickelson in 2013.

Only St. Andrews has organized more openings than Muirfield.

But the event has not been there since 2013 because the R&A was geared to bring the oldest championship of the Golf to courses that can accommodate large crowds. It is expected that 278,000 spectators will be at Royal Portrush this week, the second largest behind St. Andrews. The last openings in Muirfield had 142,000 spectators.

The open will be in Royal Birkdale next year and then in 2027 in St. Andrews. The site for 2028 was not announced. Muirfield has never gone longer than 11 years – except for interruptions in the First World War and the Second World War – between the open.

“We love the golf course in Muirfield. We are currently discussing the event location,” said Darbon. “There are some things that we have to develop in Muirfield – especially the practice area is a challenge for us with modern open, and there are some work that we have to do with the event location to facilitate part of the infrastructure that we need.

“But it's a good dialogue and we would like to be back in the future.”