PLANS to redevelop the famous Ailsa course at Turnberry have been lodged with council planning officials – in the hope of strengthening the course’s case for a return to the Open Championship rota.

Proposals to alter the seventh and eighth holes at the course are currently under review with South Ayrshire Council.

They would see the existing seventh hole – ‘Roon The Ben’ – moved to the west, putting it right next to the coastline, with the tees for the eighth hole, ‘Goat Fell’, moved to the right of the planned new seventh hole.

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A supporting statement lodged with the application states that the proposed alterations are intended to “enhance the overall golfing experience for all members and visitors and to facilitate the return of the Open Championship to Turnberry and South Ayrshire”.

The Open has been held on four occasions at the Ailsa Course, most recently in 2009, when Stewart Cink defeated Tom Watson in a play-off.

But it was struck from the Open rota following the riots in the US Capitol two years ago, in which the resort’s owner, former US President Donald Trump, was widely implicated.

Ayr Advertiser: Donald Trump bought Turnberry for a reported $60m in 2014Donald Trump bought Turnberry for a reported $60m in 2014 (Image: PA)

Last week it was reported that Turnberry had turned a profit for the first time since it was bought by Mr Trump, with a pre-tax profit of £571,000 reported in 2022, compared to a loss of £3.7m in 2021.

Ahead of the 2023 tournament at Royal Liverpool, Martin Slumbers, the outgoing chief executive of the Open’s organisers, the R&A, said the tournament would not return to Turnberry “until we’re confident that any coverage at Turnberry would be about golf, about the golf course and about the championship”.