- Hole No. 3 (courtesy Trump International)
Trump International Golf Links
Scotland, in
conjunction with the great golf course
architect Martin Hawtree and his team
have
created a links masterpiece in northeast
of Scotland. This championship layout is
eight
miles north of Aberdeen, and easily
accessible
from the oil capital of Europe.
The Aberdeenshire coastline contains
a
stretch of links golf courses of the highest
quality anywhere on the planet. Donald
Trump
saw the topography of the Menie Estate,
and
realized the potential. Now, within the
sand
dunes of one of the most beautiful and
dramatic coastlines in the world, lies what
will
surely be one of the best golf courses in
the
world.
I should make clear that the focus of
this article is the golf course. There is
political
debate surrounding the development, but
I
leave that for others to deal with.
Access roads, an excellent
‘play it both ways’ north-south
practice ground, a 3,000-acre putting
green
and superb temporary clubhouse will also
await you. You can book online at the
club's
website.
Challenging yet playable, this 7,423-
yard
par-72 layout offers a wonderful golf
experience for everyone. With 107 tees,
many
holes offer tees where the one at the
front
plays around 100 yards shorter than from
the
back. When standing on various tees
throughout the course, I thought from the
perspective of the top pro, through to that
of
a mid-handicap golfer like myself, and
came to
the conclusion that if you manage your
game
well, you are sure to enjoy the game of
your
life, whatever your score.
You will find 94 traditional pot
bunkers carefully positioned throughout
the
course, so bring your sand wedge! The
quality of the grass is outstanding.
Playing Trump International Golf Links
Scotland will be four to five hours of
walking
on the highest quality carpet you can
imagine. No steep rubble-laden paths
from tee to fairway here. Green surrounds
have the same quality of turf you will find
on
the putting surface. The only difference is
the
cut. These expansive areas are four times
the
magnitude you would find on an average
course.
One of my concerns prior to visiting
was
whether the dunes would swamp a
golfer’s view of the coastline. Not a bit
of it. They merely serve to enhance the
visual
experience. On many holes the views are
stunning. The green on the par-3 third is
so
perfectly positioned beside the beach that
you
feel as if you are putting off it. The tees on
the par-5 fourth even permit you splendid
views back to Aberdeen. Another par-3,
the
sixth, visually provides sand dunes,
heather,
orchids and sea.
The 14th tees offer as dramatic a view
across the Aberdeenshire coastline as you
can
imagine. The dunes slope beautifully into
the
fairway. When playing your tee shot
here, do not be intimidated by what
seems a
tight landing area. John Bambury, Course
Superintendant, assures me that the drive
is
deceivingly narrow. From there you can
see
northwards along the rugged coastline to
Slains Castle, which dates back to the
16th
century.
The 18th hole is very special indeed.
Martin Hawtree has carefully positioned
18 bunkers from tee to green. The 18th
encompasses aspects of each of the
preceding 17 holes. This is
something only a world-class golf course
architecture company with 100 years
of experience could pull off. Hawtree
Limited
has succeeded.
The green fees may raise some
eyebrows,
but when you consider the high level of
service all of Donald Trump’s visitors
get when they play one of his courses,
you
will find the investment well worth it. At
current exchange rates you will pay
approximately $235 for a weekday game,
and
$313 at the weekends. There is a 20
percent
discount for those living in an AB
postcode,
but that will be of little worth to many
readers
I appreciate!
I shall now summarize by covering
what I
especially liked. Unlike many courses, the
putting green is huge, so there is plenty of
room to accommodate all. It also reflects
precisely the green conditions you will find
during your 18 holes. The driving range is
open air. The same will therefore apply.
Each nine is as challenging and enjoyable
as
the other. There is no easier or more
difficult
nine, something I hate when playing a
course.
Golf carts are not permitted, unless
you
have a documented physical condition
which
prevents you from walking the course.
This is
good, because it will afford you more
opportunity to take in your
experience. Caddies are available. I
would always recommend one, for the
same
reasons I like the golf cart rule. As for
signature holes? Many courses have one.
The
Menie Estate has plenty. The feeling you
will
have after a testing an exciting round
here
will stay in your golfing heart a very, very
long
time.
WRITERS NOTES:
For somewhere to rest while staying in
the
area, the Malmaison Hotel
near the
centre of Aberdeen is as luxurious and
pleasant
as the experience you will have on the
golf
course. The service too is right up
there with what the Trump organization
will
provide you.