Trump Details Turnberry Plans
2 July 2014, 06:21 | Updated: 2 July 2014, 15:29
Tycoon Donald Trump has set out his plans for one of the world's most famous golf courses.
Donald Trump added his name to one of the most iconic golf resorts in the world not for his "ego'' but to make the course "more successful''.
The businessman bought Turnberry in Ayrshire last month and quickly announced it is to be renamed 'Trump Turnberry'.
He has pledged to spend more than £100 million to renovate the hotel that overlooks the famous course and said there will be some potential changes to it over the next few years, particularly holes nine to 11.
The cost of the purchase has not been revealed but the tycoon said the hotel is debt-free and there is no mortgage on the property.
At a press conference in the Turnberry hotel today, Mr Trump said he discussed the name change with "important people'' in Scotland and the world of golf and said he would not have changed it if he thought it would have a negative impact.
Sitting at a large bay window overlooking the famous Ailsa course with a Trump-branded helicopter on the hotel lawn, he said: "I looked at the name change in the form of logos and it looks so incredible.
"One of the things that I think is good (about the Trump organisation) is we have tremendous success, our buildings are tremendously successful, so if you add it, I'm not doing it for ego, I'm doing it because it's going to make the place more successful.
"If I thought it was going to hurt Turnberry I wouldn't use the name but it's going to make this great resort much more successful than it has been and that's the primary reason I'm doing it.
"If I thought it would have a negative impact, I would not do it. I want to see incredible success for this resort beyond anything else.''
He added: "I actually asked some people that are very important in Scotland, although I won't get them in trouble by saying their name, but I've spoken to very important and very powerful political people and I said 'what do you think of the idea of Trump Turnberry?'
"Everyone said that they would love it, I spoke to the higher-ups in the world of golf and one of them said it used to be called Westin Turnberry when the Japanese owned it, I think Trump Turnberry sounds much better.''
Mr Trump was joined at the press conference by his son Eric and golf course architect Martin Ebert who highlighted the changes that could be made to the course.
Turberry is on the rota of courses that can stage the Open Championship and Mr Trump said that was a factor is his decision to purchase the resort.
"It's a magnificent tournament, I've watched it for so many years and never missed it,'' he said.
"It's just an honour to be associated with the Royal and Ancient (golf governing body) and the tournament potentially.
"It's already had four Opens and the women are coming next year, which I consider very important, and I think the greatness of this course will lead to others, it has to.
"We have now the greatest canvass in all of golf so ultimately people can't avoid it.''
It is Mr Trump's second Scottish course, following on from his Aberdeenshire resort which opened in July 2012.
Plans for a second golf course, club house and hotel on the same site remain on hold amid a bitter dispute over a proposed wind farm adjacent to the resort, but Mr Trump said the current course is a success and has been a "big boost'' for Aberdeen.