Donald Trump closes in on Turnberry golf course

The US tycoon, according to media reports, is reported to be close to a £35m deal for the South Ayrshire course which is expected to host its fifth Open in the next decade.

Turnberry is currently owned by Leisurecorp, a subsidiary of the Dubai government, and has been unofficially up for sale since the global financial downturn.

The government agency bought the resort, which includes a 5 star hotel, for £52 million in 2008

Trump currently owns 16 golf resorts around the globe including his links course in the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire.

The property developer vowed in February to focus his attention outwith Scotland after he lost his court battle against the Scottish Government’s approval of the offshore wind farm he claims will blight his luxury Scottish golf resort.

He announced that his global organisation would instead be focusing “all of our investment and energy” on Doonbeg Golf Club in County Clare which sits on the Atlantic coast of the Republic of Ireland.

The flamboyant billionaire has called a halt to any future major investment at his Menie golf resort including the development of a luxury 140-bedroom hotel.

This was due to the Scottish Government’s decision to give the green light to the £230 million European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) in Aberdeen Bay, which will lie within sight of his championship links course.