IT LOOKS almost certainly like Donald Trump is coming to Scotland this summer.
The US president is due to be in the UK on a “working visit” in July where he will hold bilateral talks with the Prime Minister and likely meet the Queen.
But it looks as if the tycoon is going to try and come to Ayrshire and squeeze in a game of golf at his Turnberry course.
Golfers trying to book tee-times for Friday 13, the day the US Commander in Chief is due to visit to the UK, are being told none are available.
Just two days ago there were over 20 tee times available, and other slots remain available for every other day of the year.
With each tee time costing at least £375 per person, it seems unlikely the loss making golf course would lose a day of business slap bang in the middle of the summer holidays, unless it was for a very special occasion.
Last week, a Sunday newspaper reported that UK officials were considering organising a golf trip as a possible stop for Theresa May and Trump on the President’s 24-hour visit.
But the paper suggested this would likely be on a course in England as there would be no time to come to Scotland.
However, it seems the president might disagree.
Since his inauguration, Trump has visited golf courses 105 times, according to the Trump Golf Count website.
He has had 51 confirmed games, though the real figure is believed to be higher.
The website estimates a cost to the US taxpayer of more than $67 million, mainly for flights on Air Force One to Mar-a-Lago and Bedminster, his Florida and New Jersey golf resorts.
May had originally extended an invitation to Trump when she became the first foreign leader to visit the US president after his inauguration in January 2017. That full, formal visit will likely not be held until a later date.
The last time Trump was in Turnberry was on the day of the Brexit referendum result.
Trump’s sons, Eric and Donald Jr, are now responsible for managing the course in Ayrshire and the family’s other, more controversial resort in Aberdeenshire.
The businessman pledged to invest £200m in Turnberry, which he bought in 2014 but which made a loss of almost £8.4m last year.
The Aberdeenshire course – owned by Trump International Golf Club Scotland – lost just under £1.1m in 2015.
Trump Turnberry has been approached for comment.
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