Paul McLaren
BBC Scotland News
Reuters
Vance arrived at Turnberry just weeks after President Trump also played there
US Vice-President JD Vance has spent the first morning of his Scottish holiday playing golf at Donald Trump’s Turnberry course.
Vance flew to Scotland on Air Force Two with his family on Wednesday and is staying at a plush country estate on the outskirts of Kilmarnock in East Ayrshire.
He was driven the 30 miles to Turnberry on the first full day of his private visit to Scotland, where he teed-up while surrounded by a convoy of buggies manned by US secret service agents and military personnel.
It comes just weeks after President Trump visited Scotland, when he played Turnberry in South Ayrshire and his new 18-hole course at Menie in Aberdeenshire.
Reuters
The vice-president was given some local advice as he plotted his way round the course
Vance is staying at Carnell Estates, a privately owned estate which has a 14th Century tower and 10-bedroom mansion situated on over 2,000 acres of land.
His arrival at the resort on Wednesday was greeted by dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters.
Police Scotland previously confirmed they had plans in place for “a significant policing operation.”
Airspace restrictions are in place around the estate until Sunday.
Vance will reportedly spend five days in Scotland – the same amount of time his boss did during his trip to the country last month.
Reuters
Vance is enjoying a private family visit to Scotland
On Tuesday, Vance met US troops stationed at the Royal Air Force Base in Fairford, Gloucestershire, where he received a briefing on the base’s capabilities.
While not on official White House business, he met David Lammy for talks about Gaza and other international affairs at the foreign secretary’s official residence, Chevening House, in Kent.
Reuters
Vance was joined on the course by a group of guests
Earlier this year the vice-president criticised Scotland over buffer zones, which prevent demonstrations or vigils taking place close to abortion clinics.
He used the new law as an example of Europe not protecting free speech and used a speech in Munich to claim “even private prayer within their own homes may amount to breaking the law”.
However, Vance has also described himself as a “Scots-Irish hillbilly at heart” in the past, with his ancestors having moved to the Appalachian region in the US more than three centuries ago.
A Scottish government spokesperson said: “The Scottish government continues to work collaboratively with partners, including the UK government and Police Scotland, to manage the impact of a potential visit by the US Vice-President to Scotland.”
