Charley Hull insists it is a shame that Trump Turnberry is no longer on the Open Championship or AIG Women’s Open rota having been impressed during a practice round on Monday.
Hull is not a lover of links golf which is why her best finish in the Women’s Open came at Walton Heath last year where she was runner-up behind Lilia Vu, but she still holds the Women’s Open as one of her top two events of the year and would love to see Trump Turnberry reinstated to both the men’s and women’s rotas.
“I thought it was a great golf course. Great fun. I love being out on the golf course, and the views on that golf course is brilliant. It was so much fun. I played it on Monday,” said England’s Hull.
“A hundred per cent. I think it’s a shame. It is a really top track. Like honestly, it’s one of the best golf courses in the world. It would be a shame to not be on there.”
Donald Trump purchased the hotel and golf courses from Leisurecorp in 2014 for $60 million and the resort was renamed Trump Turnberry. Trump resigned his directorship of the companies which own Trump Turnberry in 2017, just before he was inaugurated as President of the United States, and passed control to his sons Donald Jr and Eric.
However, after the 2021 USA Capitol attack the R&A said that Turnberry’s Ailsa course would not be considered to host the Open as long as Trump’s name was linked to the venue.
The Open was last held in Turnberry in 2009 when Stewart Cink famously denied Tom Watson while the Women’s Open was last played there in 2015, won by Inbee Park.
The Women’s Open often isn’t played on a links golf course with Walton Heath, Sunningdale and Woburn (most times at 9) playing host to the event and ahead of a first return to St Andrews since 2013, Hull is still yet to fall in love with links golf.
“I felt like last year, because it wasn’t on a links golf course, it suited me very well.
“But links is not the best part of my game. I do enjoy the American style of golf courses, hitting it long, hitting it high and you know. While links, you don’t have to be the best ball-striker, you just have got to get it down the fairway and keep under the wind. But at the same time, I’m looking forward to the challenge.”