Trump’s Scotland Visit: Golf, Trade, and Heritage at Turnberry and Aberdeen
Sarah Johnson
July 27, 2025
Brief
President Trump visits Scotland, blending trade talks with golf at his iconic Turnberry and Aberdeen resorts, honoring his heritage and storied courses.
President Donald Trump touched down in Scotland for a five-day visit, blending business with pleasure as he checked into his renowned golf resorts in Turnberry and Aberdeen. Landing at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, just a short drive from the iconic Turnberry, Trump is set to mix trade talks with British and Scottish leaders alongside rounds of golf on some of the world’s most celebrated courses.
Trump Turnberry, nestled in South Ayrshire, boasts three exceptional golf courses, with the Ailsa Course earning its place among the top 10 globally, according to Golf Digest. Named after the volcanic island Ailsa Craig visible from the property, this course has hosted four Open Championships, including the legendary 1977 'Duel in the Sun' between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus. The resort’s 19th-hole restaurant pays homage to that epic showdown. Originally opened in 1901, Turnberry’s history is as rich as its greens, once serving as a hospital during World War I before transforming into a luxury hotel. Acquired by the Trump Organization in 2014, it now bears the president’s name.
Beyond the fairways, Turnberry offers a glimpse into Scotland’s storied past. The Turnberry Lighthouse, built in 1873, stands guard over the treacherous Ayrshire coast, while nearby ruins of Turnberry Castle whisper tales of Robert the Bruce, possibly born there before becoming King of Scotland.
Further north in Aberdeenshire, Trump International Scotland stretches along the North Sea, with a challenging 7,428-yard course designed by Martin Hawtree. President Trump, joined by his son Eric, marked the opening of a second course at Aberdeen with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. He also shared a personal note, crediting Scottish icon Sean Connery for aiding in securing permits for the project. 'If it weren’t for Sean, we wouldn’t have these great courses,' Trump remarked to reporters.
Scotland holds a deeply personal connection for the president, as his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, hailed from the region before settling in Queens, New York. In tribute, he dedicated the Aberdeen club to her, naming an 18-hole course the MacLeod Course and creating a memorial garden in her honor.
As Trump navigates trade discussions and tees off on these historic links, his visit underscores both his business ventures and a heartfelt tie to his heritage. Scotland, with its rugged beauty and storied past, remains a fitting backdrop for this unique blend of diplomacy and personal legacy.
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Editor's Comments
Well, folks, Trump’s swinging through Scotland like he’s auditioning for a James Bond flick—trade deals by day, golf by dusk. With Sean Connery’s ghostly blessing on those permits, I half expect 007 to caddie for him on the Ailsa Course. But let’s be real: between Turnberry’s historic greens and a lighthouse guarding shipwrecks, the real hazard might be Trump negotiating a Brexit bunker shot. Talk about a ‘duel in the sun’—let’s hope the trade talks don’t end up as rough as the Ayrshire coast!
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