January 11, 2021 | BY AAGD STAFF
Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A released the following statement earlier today:
“We had no plans to stage any of our championships at Turnberry and will not do so in the foreseeable future. We will not return until we are convinced that the focus will be on the championship, the players, and the course itself and we do not believe that is achievable in the current circumstances.”
Back in 2015, during his presidential campaign, Donald Trump made it difficult for the R&A, or any other golfing organization for that matter, to align themselves with his name and his venues. The reasons being, the American billionaire made numerous distasteful comments about Mexicans, then after being elected, in 2018 Trump continued to use vulgar language, insulting African Americans and women with his words. He even went on to call Haiti and African countries “shithole countries.” These acts left no doubt in the minds of many American citizens and corporate companies, predicting that his golf properties were going to suffer.
With the PGA recently pulling out of its contract for the 22 PGA Championship that was scheduled to be played at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey, this move by the R&A will also his the American billionaire in the pocket costing his organization huge revenue losses.
As long as Trump’s name is associated with Turnberry, the prospect of the R&A holding The Open there looks extremely doubtful.
About The R&A
The R&A group of companies was formed in 2004 to take on The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews’ responsibilities for governing the Rules of Golf, staging The Open, golf’s original championship, and developing the sport. The British Golf Museum in St Andrews is part of the R&A group.
Together The R&A and the USGA govern the sport of golf worldwide, operating in separate jurisdictions with a commitment to a single code for the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status and Equipment Standards. The R&A, through R&A Rules Ltd, governs the sport worldwide, outside of the United States and Mexico, on behalf of over 36 million golfers in 144 countries and with the consent of 159 organisations from amateur and professional golf.
The R&A has responsibility for running a series of world class amateur events and international matches in women’s and girls’ as well as men’s and boys’ golf. The R&A stages the AIG Women’s Open and works with the European Tour to stage the Senior Open presented by Rolex.
The R&A is committed to investing £200 million over ten years in developing golf and supports the growth of the sport internationally, including the development and management of sustainable golf facilities.
For more information, visit www.randa.org.
