Had it not been for his mother’s influence, President Donald Trump might have passed on acquiring one of his most treasured assets, the Trump International Scotland golf course in Aberdeen.
At 79 years old, the President is a lifelong golf enthusiast. His impressive collection of properties boasts 15 top-tier golf courses around the globe, with two situated in the native land of his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, Scotland.
Trump, currently in his second non-consecutive term at the White House, almost backed out of purchasing The Trump International Scotland project along a stunning segment of the North Sea coast near Aberdeen, with the green light given for a new project on the resort.
The forthright President, who has shown interest in merging golf’s premier circuits, the PGA and LIV Golf, initially encountered stiff resistance to his 2006 proposal for the course.
Even with support from the Scottish government at the time, Trump was met with protests from locals and environmentalists eager to preserve the coastal dunes’ natural habitat, home to wildlife like skylarks, kittiwakes, badgers, and otters.
The course ultimately debuted in 2012, but Trump conceded that without the connection to his mother’s Scottish heritage, the project might not have come to fruition. Mary passed away in 2000, well before Trump’s initial pitch for the course
“If it weren’t for my mother, would I have walked away from this site? I think probably I would have, yes,” Trump reflected in 2008. “Possibly, had my mother not been born in Scotland, I probably wouldn’t have started it.”
A second 18-hole course at the resort is set to debut this summer, named by Trump in honor of his mother. The Republican mogul also holds ownership of Turnberry. Despite mixed feelings, some locals acknowledge the upsides of Trump’s ventures in Scotland, such as job creation.
Trump is actively lobbying for Turnberry to host the British Open again, with its last tournament held there in 2009, where Stewart Cink emerged victorious. However, Mark Darbon, who succeeded Martin Slumbers at the RandA this year, has informed Trump that Turnberry isn’t on the roster for the time being.
Don’t miss
The decision stems from various logistical challenges that need resolution. “I think we’ve been extremely clear on our position in respect of Turnberry. We love the golf course, but we’ve got some big logistical challenges there,” Darbon explained.
He pointed out the necessity for improvements in road, rail, and accommodation infrastructure around Turnberry, comparing it to the extensive setup seen elsewhere.
RandA officials, including Darbon, have engaged with Eric Trump and other Trump Golf executives to explore the potential for hosting the event. “I think they understand clearly where we’re coming from. We talked through some of the challenges that we have, so we’ve got a good dialogue with them,” he remarked.
Nevertheless, the UK government might step in. “We have an ongoing dialogue with the U.K. government, given that we’re a major event that creates significant value into the U.K. economy,” Darbon mentioned.
“We’ve spoken to them specifically about Turnberry, and I think they’ve made it clear that the decision around where we take our championship rests with us.”
He also noted, “I would find it difficult to predict whether there will be any discussion on the Open if the president is making a visit here.”
