NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- As the golf world celebrates the triumphs of Jordan Spieth, the first teen to win a PGA Tour in 82 years, Donald Trump is celebrating the 1-year anniversary of his latest golf course in Scotland. So far, the Trump International Golf Links, located in the Scottish Highlands in Aberdeen, has been a huge success, according to Trump. We spoke last week to discuss his crown jewel golf course and its winning ways.
As many know, I have been following Trump's deals and I wanted to find out why the real estate legend was so proud of his one-year old baby (golf course). Prior to speaking with the billionaire, I researched (by Googling) Trump's 2000 acre resort and glazed over the photos of the 4-mile long North Sea and spectacular sand dunes. I found this interesting review from
:
"Trump International Golf Links is a triumph of design -- a bold, stirring seaside layout that already is driving more golf tourists to the Scottish Highlands."
We all know Trump as perhaps one of the world's best real estate promoters and I knew that there was a lot of hype behind Trump's celebrity status. But Golf.com seems to cut right to the chase:
"Trump International Golf Links Scotland is billed by its owner (Trump) as the 'World's greatest' golf course.' Trump Scotland might turn out to be as good as advertised."
Since the inception of the project, Trump has spent in excess of $100 million in improvements and the golf course officially opened last summer and is now in its first full season of play. This is a "pay and play" course, so anyone who loves the game of golf can play (The standard green-fee is £195 per player).
Alex Miceli of GolfWeek calls Trump Scotland a "top-rated new course (in the GB&I rankings). ... It's a terrific combination of new design with old-world land, Miceli reports. This property, located on the Menie Estate along the North Sea, is "one of the most picturesque in the world."
There is no doubt that Trump's stake in Scotland has made a positive impact on the area. In my interview with Trump, he said the Trump International Golf Links has the "largest dunes in the world" and it "can't be duplicated." The billionaire went on to say that the "play has been tremendous" and the success has been a "wonderful thing for the people in Scotland."
The Trump Organization owns 14 golf developments today (some with multiple courses) and the portfolio has a common theme in that they are all located in "high barrier to entry" areas with no dilution to quality. Trump is especially boastful about his "irreplaceable" golf course in Scotland -- the country where golf was created.
I asked Trump if the Trump International was the most profitable deal in his career and he said, "I've made more money with towers; however, Trump International could be the greatest success of my career."
A Double Bogie for the Wind Farm
Trump opened this golf course on July 10, 2012. Since it is surpassing expectations, Trump wants to open a second golf course project and possibly a hotel in Scotland. However, Trump has been playing his cards close to the vest as a government-fueled debate over a proposed neighboring wind farm has sparked controversy.
Trump told the Huffington Post, "We will put our future plans in Aberdeen on hold, as will many others, until this ridiculous (wind farm) proposal is defeated. When Trump acquired the property in 2006, he had planned to build a luxury hotel on the site but now future phases are in jeopardy.
Trump Shoots an Eagle in Aberdeen
Trump knows how to find amazing deals and the Trump International is just another success story in a long line with the other great Trump projects. Scotland should be thankful for a first-class golf course developed by one of the greatest developers of all time. Gary Player once said, "Greatness is talent applied consistently" and clearly Donald Trump is more than talented and he has scored another hole in one in Scotland.
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This article was written by an independent contributor, separate from TheStreet's regular news coverage.
