Trump Golf: Good or Bad for Golf Course market?

[Anton]

Its a topic already discussed but now that Trumps Fab World of Golf is in its 2nd season, it made me ask the question again.....is his business venture good or bad for an already down golf market?

I have played a couple of his courses a few times and found them to be a bag of mixed nuts.  Trump Philly (pka Pine Hill) was a descent course with lots of potential.  i will be curious this season how the changes add or take away from the experience.  Trump Colts Neck (pka Shadow Isle) is nothing special IMO.  Houses (enormous!) and holes that lack creativity make this place strictly about $$$$ (perfect for Trump).  I played the Old Course at Bedminster which I feel is a great design.  Fazio created a lot of variety in the design with large chipping areas and some real nice bunkering.  The varied terrain and the beauty of the property really makes this Trumps best course.  I also played Trump Hudson (pka Branton Woods) which is an average course in my book.  There are a lot of courses that have the same look and feel so I really found it nothing exceptional.

This is just my experience at the Trump courses.  Some good and some bad.  But in looking at the BIG picture I dont think he is really doing anything innovative for the golf industry.  There are plenty of management companies out there that have multiple courses in their portfolio.  Trump claims that his are a cut above the rest but I just do not see it.  And the enormous price tags and just excess "stuff" at his clubs his not helping a struggling golf economy.  I see this business venture going the way his casino business went.....bankrupt.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Bad, the only basis for this guy to be good is under that old axion  I do not care what you say just talk about me

[Brian_Ewen]

Tony
Do you view the "World of Golf" any different than Mr. Trump ?

[Anton]

I certainly do view the 'World of Golf' differently.  If he wanted to do something great for the game he would look towards broadening golfs appeal again.  Golf courses have become too expensive and the market is saturated with high end private courses.  He would be doing 'something revolutionary for the game' if he brought back methods that decrease costs and put less emphasis on wealth.  He is not the only guilty party now-a-days unfortunately, so I am not soley blaming him (he just happens to be on TV).  A majority of the industry needs to make a 180 and return to quality public (or even affordable private) access golf that is playable and affordable.  If he was building a mix of facilities (not just high end and uber exclusive) then I would be more inclined to view him as a better influence on the game.  But that just isnt in his nature I guess.  He needs the attention....as TB pointed to. 

[Anthony Gray]

  Good.Golf can always benefit from smoe one with his passion.

  Anthony

[George Pazin]

At least he's providing some demand. I'd guess those he's dealing with appreciate his business.

[Anton]

Yeah.  He buys from a buddy of mine at a JD distribution.  The Philly project basically has an open check book.  He converted the 9th hole into a par 5, added a pond to hole 5 (par 3), and stretched out a bunch of holes.  So I hope to play it later this year and get a first hand account of the "new and improved" Pine Hill. 

I just wish someone would be an advocate for more affordable and appealing golf.  Seems like golf has turned back the clocks to when it was strictly a rich mans game. 

[Kyle Harris]

I just wish someone would be an advocate for more affordable and appealing golf.  Seems like golf has turned back the clocks to when it was strictly a rich mans game. 

Tony:

What data can you provide that supports that golf was ever strictly a rich man's game outside of myth and lore?

[jeffwarne]

Just think of it like the sorting of 4 houses of Harry Potter
somebody's got to lead the Slytherin House
good to isolate the Trumperins

[Anton]

No that's funny! 

[Harvey Dickens]

Depends on how you feel about waterfalls on your course.

[Adam Clayman]

If he's using his own money, more power to him. If he's using OPM's I agree with the comment above about the Casino biz. If he's either land or water squatting he's a genius. 

[Ross Tuddenham]

Not sure if he is bad for golf in general or not but his course in Scotland may be a blessing in disguise for the classic links.  There may come a time when some of them are barely suitable for the open championship. If this happens the R and A could think about bastardising trumps course instead of somewhere like TOC.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Other than Trump West Palm Beach and Trump (new) Bedminster, aren't everyone of his courses existing courses that he acquired (rescued)

How can that be bad for golf ?

[Anton]

The West Palm course has 27 holes that are all new and the Bedminster club has 36 holes all new.  I agree that revising or 'saving' these courses is good.  But to then throw a giant price tag on them and add un-natural features (the waterfalls and faux rock walls and 50K square foot clubhouses) and so on is overkill in a market that has WAY too many of these courses all ready.  Not many people are shelling out over 100K for memberships these days.  Ask most of the high end club owners around and most are saying that they are in trouble.  Trump seems to have an army of investors lining his pockets and counting on the Trump name to pull in a profit.  But Trump is no fool.....he will do what he did at AC......spend other peoples money and scrape the top for himself.  Then claim bankruptcy to protect himself from the bill collectors.   If he truly wanted to 'save' these courses and the game of golf then he would invest in broadening golfs appeal.  Creating more opportunities for everyone to ejoy the game.  If I owned a golf course I would much rather have a course that lots of people could enjoy at an affordable rate, then have a course that only a limited number of people could afford and got little / no play.  Maybe thats why I dont have Trump money.  :-)

I am really enjoying being a member of this website and would like to thank everyone for your insight.  I hope to learn more about my favorite 'playgrounds'......the great golf courses of the world.  Thanks again!!!