The Week That Was, september 25, 2011

mongolia Postcard from Ron Fream

A couple of days ago I received this dispatch, via postcard, from our faithful, Malaysia-based correspondent:

Khövsgöl Lake -- Hello, Bob! Golfplan is doing 18 holes at Ulaanbaatar, Sky Resort-Golf-Ski. Winter is approaching in higher areas. We are 500 miles west of Ulaanbaatar. Reindeer herders have left for higher, greener places. Many yak, casmin goats. Yak soup and yak cheese is good here. Cheers! Ron Fream

A few notes:

1. Khövsgöl Lake is located in northern Mongolia, not far from the Russian border. It's one of the world's 17 “ancient lakes” -- it's said to be 2 million years old -- and one of the most pristine. Its water is said to be pure enough to drink.

2. Ulaanbaatar is Mongolia's capital.


3. Golfplan's course will be Mongolia's first championship-length track. It's been designed by David Dale.

4. Sky Resort will have houses, a hotel, and ski trails. It's being developed by Ulaanbaatar-based MCS Group, which is controlled by Odjargal Jambaljamts and his brother, Od. In addition to its development activities, MCS distributes Proctor & Gamble projects and is Mongolia’s Coca-Cola bottler.

5. Finally, yes, that's a picture of a yak in the wild.

Some information in this post originally appeared in the October 2009 issue of the World Edition of the Golf Course Report.

india Will Trump Tower Over India?

The Trump Organization wants to export its brand of uber-luxurious hotels to India.

In a recent interview with Daily News & Analysis, Donald Trump, Jr. outlined some of the company's thoughts about India and had the following to say about its prospects:

I have been to [a] majority of the emerging markets, and I am bullish on India. After visiting the country at least six times in the past five years, I have realized that our brand can add significant value to India. . . .

We are proactively seeking management contracts that are aligned with the company’s long-term strategic vision of operating a collection of iconic properties in key cities and resort destinations globally. For India, this means a handful of hotels, likely ranging from approximately 150 to 500 rooms, depending on the market. . . .

We continue to strategically review opportunities in major cities and resort destinations including Mumbai, New Delhi (Central), Bangalore, and Goa and are working with local developers who carry strong track records to bring [the] Trump Hotel Collection to the market. Selectivity is fundamental, as we only want to be part of the best developments. . . .

My question: If the Trumps are looking to build hotels in India, can a golf course be far behind?

scotland Trump's Scotland Yard

Speaking of the Trump Organization, it's released an artist's rendering of the clubhouse it plans to build at Trump International Golf Club Scotland.

Here's what the 17,200-square-foot building will look like:


According to a story in the Galloway Gazette, the building's design “echoes that of Trump's home in Scotland,” the 19th-century MacLeod House on the Menie Estate.

One of Trump's colleagues has said that the building “will be second to none,” but some members of the design community disagree. The New York Post found a Scottish professor who describes the structure as a “hideous leftover from the Victorian era” that's “not even worthy of Disneyland.”

The clubhouse was designed by Acanthus Architects, an Aberdeenshire-based firm.