Last month, nearly five years after he started searching the northeastern coast of Scotland for a place to build his piece de resistance, Donald Trump unveiled the master plan for what will eventually become Trump International Golf Links Scotland.
The centerpiece of the 1,400-acre resort community, to take shape at the Menie Estate in Aberdeen, will be a 7,400-yard, Martin Hawtree-designed golf course that Trump hopes will one day host the British Open.
If you're wondering, the course won't just be good. It'll be great.
"When people look back, in years to come," Trump told the Aberdeen Evening Press, "they are going to be proud of what will be, without doubt, the best golf course in the world."
In other words, the first course at Trump International Golf Links Scotland will be better than the Old course at St. Andrews, better than Royal Dornoch, better than the Old course at Royal Troon, better than Muirfield. It'll also be better than Castle Stuart and Kingsbarns, if you want to compare it with contemporary links.
And those are only some of the best courses in Scotland.
Trump expects to break ground on the course this summer -- it'll be built by SOL Golf Course Construction, an Irish firm -- and he expects to open it in 2012. He told the Aberdeen Press & Journal that he "had an input into all the holes" -- just as he's done with his courses in the United States -- and that "they are all going to be hard."
Hawtree, a third-generation designer who specializes in creating links-style tracks, told the Press & Journal that "the layout as conceived would contain no weak holes" and that "it will produce simply the most dramatic, stimulating stretch of golf anywhere I have seen."
Besides the golf course, Trump's community will include 500 single-family houses, 950 "holiday" houses, a hotel, a village center, and, eventually, a second 18-hole golf course.
Trump apparently couldn't resist teasing the reporters on hand with a suggestion that he might -- he might -- want to build other golf courses in Scotland once his current project is "well under way."
"Scotland is a great place," he said to the Press & Journal. "Something else could happen for us in Scotland."
One other piece of news from the unveiling: In the future, Trump plans to spend plenty of time in Scotland.
"Once this is built," he said, "I will be there a lot."
Consider it a fair warning.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
SCOTLAND TBD by Hermiston Securities, Alloa
The company that plans to build a Paul Lawrie “signature” course in Aberdeen has announced plans to build a golf community in Clackmannanshire.
The to-be-named community will be built by Hermiston Securities, a division of J. W. Muir Group. Muir owns Deer Park Golf & Country Club in West Lothian, Scotland, and it hopes to develop a course at Blairs College that’s been co-designed by Lawrie and Robin Hiseman of European Golf Design.
Hermiston’s new community will be in Alloa, a town that’s seven miles east of Stirling, 30 miles northwest of Edinburgh. It’ll consist of 1,200 houses, a 100-room, high-end hotel, an elementary school, a shopping area, and a “championship-standard” golf course.
Late last year, Ronnie Muir, one of Muir’s directors, told the Alloa Advertiser that his company hopes to break ground on the project in two or three years.
The to-be-named community will be built by Hermiston Securities, a division of J. W. Muir Group. Muir owns Deer Park Golf & Country Club in West Lothian, Scotland, and it hopes to develop a course at Blairs College that’s been co-designed by Lawrie and Robin Hiseman of European Golf Design.
Hermiston’s new community will be in Alloa, a town that’s seven miles east of Stirling, 30 miles northwest of Edinburgh. It’ll consist of 1,200 houses, a 100-room, high-end hotel, an elementary school, a shopping area, and a “championship-standard” golf course.
Late last year, Ronnie Muir, one of Muir’s directors, told the Alloa Advertiser that his company hopes to break ground on the project in two or three years.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
The Irish Stew
Like their counterparts in the United States, Irish architects are finally starting to talk about their overbuilt golf market and what the future holds for golf design.
Yes, there are too many golf courses in Ireland -- something like 425, according to a recent story in the Sunday Independent, with 75 of them added in the past 14 years. That's a lot courses for a country the size of Indiana, even if the people who live there are crazy for golf.
But the real problem is that Irish developers, like their U.S. counterparts, have been building the wrong kind of golf courses -- layouts that are too long, too difficult, too expensive to maintain, and cost too much to play.
We're talking, of course, about those "high-end" daily-fee courses that were all the rage just a decade ago, when legions of people could afford to throw away $75 or $100 -- and sometimes more -- on a round of golf. In Ireland these days, according to the Independent, such facilities -- just like their counterparts in the United States -- are slashing their greens fees and desperately fighting for survival.
Declan Branigan, an Irish architect and agronomist, told the Independent, "Golf in Ireland is at a crossroads, and we need to think long and hard about where we're going."
Do we really? Because the way I see it, there really isn't a crossroads. We've already gone way past that spot in the road.
After everything that's happened since the crash of 2008, and without a sizzling housing market to make people forget about market fundamentals, who in his right mind is going to build -- let alone lend money to build -- an over-designed golf course conceived by an over-inflated architect, especially if it can't possibly turn a profit?
For sure, it won't be the home builders who've floated golf's boat for the past two decades. Their bubble has burst, and they won't be able to justify building $20 million "loss leaders" anytime soon.
So where is the crossroads, exactly?
Because it seems to me that there's really only one road to take: To go smaller and shorter and cheaper. To make golf more affordable and maybe even more fun.
Yes, there are too many golf courses in Ireland -- something like 425, according to a recent story in the Sunday Independent, with 75 of them added in the past 14 years. That's a lot courses for a country the size of Indiana, even if the people who live there are crazy for golf.
But the real problem is that Irish developers, like their U.S. counterparts, have been building the wrong kind of golf courses -- layouts that are too long, too difficult, too expensive to maintain, and cost too much to play.
We're talking, of course, about those "high-end" daily-fee courses that were all the rage just a decade ago, when legions of people could afford to throw away $75 or $100 -- and sometimes more -- on a round of golf. In Ireland these days, according to the Independent, such facilities -- just like their counterparts in the United States -- are slashing their greens fees and desperately fighting for survival.
Declan Branigan, an Irish architect and agronomist, told the Independent, "Golf in Ireland is at a crossroads, and we need to think long and hard about where we're going."
Do we really? Because the way I see it, there really isn't a crossroads. We've already gone way past that spot in the road.
After everything that's happened since the crash of 2008, and without a sizzling housing market to make people forget about market fundamentals, who in his right mind is going to build -- let alone lend money to build -- an over-designed golf course conceived by an over-inflated architect, especially if it can't possibly turn a profit?
For sure, it won't be the home builders who've floated golf's boat for the past two decades. Their bubble has burst, and they won't be able to justify building $20 million "loss leaders" anytime soon.
So where is the crossroads, exactly?
Because it seems to me that there's really only one road to take: To go smaller and shorter and cheaper. To make golf more affordable and maybe even more fun.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Norman, Sorenstam Will Headline KPMG's Golf Show
Greg Norman is a former professional golfer who's built notable complementary careers in golf course architecture, winemaking, and clothing design.
Annika Sorenstam is a professional golfer who's built notable complementary careers in golf course architecture, winemaking, and clothing design.
Yes, the arcs of their biographies are remarkably similar. And they've both agreed to lend star power to KPMG's seventh Golf Business Forum.
The forum -- the best-attended and most serious event of its kind -- will be held at the Gloria resort in Belek, Turkey on May 12-14, 2010. In years past, it's attracted a diverse, high-level collection of developers, designers, builders, and other golf professionals. It's a good place to rub elbows.
This year, Norman will get a lifetime achievement award and Sorenstam will be honored as the golf entrepreneur of the year.
Who else will be on hand?
Well, there's Tenniel Chu, the executive director of the 12-course Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China. If you ask real nice, maybe he'll tell you about his company's new golf resort on Hainan Island, which will reportedly make the original Mission Hills look pint-size.
Peter Harradine, the Swiss architect, will also be on hand, presumably to talk about the course he designing for Rakeen Developments in Georgia. (The nation, not the state.)
Also making an appearance will be Achilles Constantakopoulos, the managing director of TEMES, which is developing the Costa Navarino resort in Messinia, Greece. The resort's first golf course, designed by Bernhard Langer, is scheduled to open this spring. Six more courses are expected to follow.
And then there's Chris White of Aldar Golf, which has built a soon-to-open, Kyle Phillips-designed golf complex for the Yas Island master-planned community in Abu Dhabi. Aldar plans to build a second course at Yas Island when the Middle East's economy perks up.
The forum is being hosted by KPMG's Golf Advisory Practice, which has produced a series of useful studies about the golf business in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. If you snoop around enough at the forum's website -- golfbusinessforum.com -- you should be able to find them.
Annika Sorenstam is a professional golfer who's built notable complementary careers in golf course architecture, winemaking, and clothing design.
Yes, the arcs of their biographies are remarkably similar. And they've both agreed to lend star power to KPMG's seventh Golf Business Forum.
The forum -- the best-attended and most serious event of its kind -- will be held at the Gloria resort in Belek, Turkey on May 12-14, 2010. In years past, it's attracted a diverse, high-level collection of developers, designers, builders, and other golf professionals. It's a good place to rub elbows.
This year, Norman will get a lifetime achievement award and Sorenstam will be honored as the golf entrepreneur of the year.
Who else will be on hand?
Well, there's Tenniel Chu, the executive director of the 12-course Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China. If you ask real nice, maybe he'll tell you about his company's new golf resort on Hainan Island, which will reportedly make the original Mission Hills look pint-size.
Peter Harradine, the Swiss architect, will also be on hand, presumably to talk about the course he designing for Rakeen Developments in Georgia. (The nation, not the state.)
Also making an appearance will be Achilles Constantakopoulos, the managing director of TEMES, which is developing the Costa Navarino resort in Messinia, Greece. The resort's first golf course, designed by Bernhard Langer, is scheduled to open this spring. Six more courses are expected to follow.
And then there's Chris White of Aldar Golf, which has built a soon-to-open, Kyle Phillips-designed golf complex for the Yas Island master-planned community in Abu Dhabi. Aldar plans to build a second course at Yas Island when the Middle East's economy perks up.
The forum is being hosted by KPMG's Golf Advisory Practice, which has produced a series of useful studies about the golf business in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. If you snoop around enough at the forum's website -- golfbusinessforum.com -- you should be able to find them.
Monday, February 22, 2010
CHINA The World, Tianjin
Phil Mickelson spent a lot of time in China last year, playing a little golf and tending to some high-visibility golf projects.
Mickelson hasn’t had a particularly successful design career in the United States –- he’s co-designed just one course, at Whisper Rock Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, and his other commissions haven’t gotten off the drawing board -– but that hasn't stopped him from landing two jobs in China.
Both of the contracts were inked by Shining Star Investment Company, Ltd. (a.k.a. Xingyao Investment Company, Ltd.). Shining Star has hired Mickelson to put his name on an 18-hole golf course at its colossal World planned community in Tianjin, the sixth-largest city in the People’s Republic, and on a 45-hole project in Kunming, a rapidly emerging golf destination.
Mickelson has called the World the most impressive project he’s ever seen, and he may not simply be blowing smoke. The World (in Chinese, Xingyao Wuzhou) is a unique, futuristic “floating city” that spreads over more than 11,000 acres. It’s mostly water, with island-like land areas that are meant to resemble the earth’s continents.
The World could eventually become home to 70,000 or more people, and it seems destined to become a global tourist attraction. It’ll have all the essentials -– houses, hotels, shopping areas, eateries, a conference center -– as well as the world’s largest indoor ski area, the world’s largest indoor water park, and replicas of landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower.
The course at the World is scheduled to open in the fall of 2010. While not exactly a replica course, Mickelson has said that its design was inspired by great holes from courses around the world.
“When you go from one hole to another,” he told the Singapore Business Times late last year, “it looks like you’re on a totally different golf course.”
In Kunming, as part of a to-be-named project, Mickelson plans to co-design three courses: a championship-worthy track, a resort-style course, and an 18-hole, par-3 course for kids that will be part of a golf academy he’s designing with Rick Smith.
“We are looking at doing this at other areas throughout China, to help grow the game of golf,” he said in an interview that appeared at the PGA Tour's website.
Do you think it's really about the kids?
Mickelson is co-designing his Chinese courses with Joe Obringer, who's worked in China for several years and has a satellite office in Kunming. In his interview with the PGA Tour, Mickelson said that he and Obringer are “looking at doing some other projects” as well.
Mickelson hasn’t had a particularly successful design career in the United States –- he’s co-designed just one course, at Whisper Rock Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, and his other commissions haven’t gotten off the drawing board -– but that hasn't stopped him from landing two jobs in China.
Both of the contracts were inked by Shining Star Investment Company, Ltd. (a.k.a. Xingyao Investment Company, Ltd.). Shining Star has hired Mickelson to put his name on an 18-hole golf course at its colossal World planned community in Tianjin, the sixth-largest city in the People’s Republic, and on a 45-hole project in Kunming, a rapidly emerging golf destination.
Mickelson has called the World the most impressive project he’s ever seen, and he may not simply be blowing smoke. The World (in Chinese, Xingyao Wuzhou) is a unique, futuristic “floating city” that spreads over more than 11,000 acres. It’s mostly water, with island-like land areas that are meant to resemble the earth’s continents.
The World could eventually become home to 70,000 or more people, and it seems destined to become a global tourist attraction. It’ll have all the essentials -– houses, hotels, shopping areas, eateries, a conference center -– as well as the world’s largest indoor ski area, the world’s largest indoor water park, and replicas of landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower.
The course at the World is scheduled to open in the fall of 2010. While not exactly a replica course, Mickelson has said that its design was inspired by great holes from courses around the world.
“When you go from one hole to another,” he told the Singapore Business Times late last year, “it looks like you’re on a totally different golf course.”
In Kunming, as part of a to-be-named project, Mickelson plans to co-design three courses: a championship-worthy track, a resort-style course, and an 18-hole, par-3 course for kids that will be part of a golf academy he’s designing with Rick Smith.
“We are looking at doing this at other areas throughout China, to help grow the game of golf,” he said in an interview that appeared at the PGA Tour's website.
Do you think it's really about the kids?
Mickelson is co-designing his Chinese courses with Joe Obringer, who's worked in China for several years and has a satellite office in Kunming. In his interview with the PGA Tour, Mickelson said that he and Obringer are “looking at doing some other projects” as well.
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