President Donald Trump took in a round of golf at his Turnberry course in Scotland during his five-day trip to the United Kingdom, sharing highlights of his performance on social media. The visit, which coincided with his broader diplomatic engagements, included meetings with British Prime Minister Kier Starmer and Scottish First Minister John Swinney, focusing on trade and political relations. Trump’s presence at the resort, where he owns a significant stake, underscored the intersection of personal interests and public diplomacy.
Trump’s golf outing was accompanied by his son, Eric, and U.S. Ambassador to Britain Warren Stephens, highlighting the informal yet strategic nature of the engagement. Despite the golf-focused nature of the trip, the underlying tensions remain evident, particularly in the context of the country’s political climate. Demonstrators gathered near the U.S. Consulate in Edinburgh, expressing opposition to Trump’s presence and criticizing his trade policies. These protests reflect broader discontent with U.S.-UK trade relations and the political dynamics at play during the visit.
The Turnberry resort has a storied history in the world of golf, having hosted four Open Championships (1977, 1986, 1994, and 2009). However, the course was excluded from the 2021 Open Championship following the Capitol Riots, a decision the Royal and Ancient (R&A) Golf Club attributed to concerns about the event’s context. Despite this exclusion, the venue continues to be celebrated for its excellence, as highlighted by golf legend Gary Player, who praised its status as one of the top golf courses in Scotland. Player’s public support underscores the course’s enduring prestige in the sport.
The protests against Trump’s visit also reflect ongoing debates over the legacy of his presidency and the broader implications of his policies on international relations. While some critics argue that the Open Championship’s exclusion from Turnberry represents an overreach by the R&A, others contend that it is a necessary step to ensure the event’s neutrality in the face of political turmoil. The situation at Turnberry serves as a microcosm of the tensions between sports, politics, and public perception, all of which are playing out in the broader context of U.S. and UK relations.
Amid these tensions, Trump’s personal involvement with the course remains a point of interest, both for its cultural significance and its potential economic impact. The resort, purchased by Trump for $60 million in 2014, has hosted several professional golf events, with its last major tournament being the 2015 Women’s British Open. The golfing landscape at Turnberry continues to be a focal point for both legacy and future developments in the sport, as well as for the political and economic implications of such high-profile events.