It wasn’t exactly cheap in the first place. But if you want to tee it
up at Turnberry next summer you could end up shelling out four figures.
The Ayrshire resort, owned by former US president Donald Trump, have
hiked the green fees they’re charging non-residents to play the
world-renowned Ailsa course. To call them eye-watering is an
understatement.
From June 1, the price for those who don’t stay in the Turnberry hotel is a wallet-shredding £1,000 per person before 1pm.
It drops to £545 for those prepared to wait for a later afternoon spot, while hotel residents pay £425 all day.
It’s believed the move is aimed at protecting tee times for members
and residents as well as trying to drive more hotel occupancy.
Depending on when golfers want to play, that shock headline rack rate
price can also drop further. A weekend time in May next year weighs in
at £320.
It currently costs between £425 and £595 to book the Ailsa in high season.
Turnberry’s four figure green fee was highlighted on X by David
Jones, also known as UK Golf Guy, who has written extensively about the
increasing costs of playing the best courses in Great Britain and
Ireland.
He said in 2013, before the Trump Organization bought the property and the Ailsa was redesigned by Martin Ebert, it was £176.
But while that price surely makes the Ailsa the most expensive course
to play in GB&I for those who just rock up and put their money
down, it also catapults Turnberry up the world ladder as well.
A spot at TPC Sawgrass starts at $700 and is currently $840 for a
September time. A precious berth at Pebble Beach is $675, and it’s $595
in peak season to walk round recent US Open venue Pinehurst No. 2.
Shadow Creek, which hosted the infamous match between Tiger Woods and
Phil Mickelson in 2018, is reported to charge $1,250 to those looking
for a game.
Last month, Turnberry – which hasn’t hosted The Open since 2009 –
appealed for the championship to return, with club chiefs arguing it
would be a fitting location for the 2027 event.
Nic Oldham, Trump Turnberry general manager, said: “There is no doubt
the Ailsa remains one of the world’s most iconic layouts, and it
remains a rite of passage for many golfers who want to tread in the
footsteps of those who have graced our four Open Championships – which
have been some of the most thrilling in the tournament’s history.
“We continue to invest in the course and Martin Ebert’s redesign
raised the bar even higher. There has never been a better time to play
the Ailsa and it would be great if The R&A would consider returning
the Open to Turnberry, perhaps to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the
famous ‘Duel in the Sun’ in 2027.”
The R&A’s position since 2021 has been that The Open will not go
back “until we are convinced that the focus will be on the championship,
the players and the course.”
With the ex-president currently running to return to the White House, that might be unlikely anytime soon.
