Donald Trump’s new golf course in Scotland has opened to big claims and bigger views. We teed it up to find out if the ambitious New course at Trump International Scotland actually delivers.
The New Course at Trump Scotland has only been open a few months, but it’s already ranked highly in our list of the Best Golf Courses in Scotland.
Its ranking puts it right on the cut-off mark for the GB&I Top 100 Courses, which we will refresh soon. Still maturing, it is likely only a matter of time before the New enters that ranking, and its slot as the 31st best course in Scotland is probably a cautious opening position for a course I do not believe will end up too far behind the Old at Trump Scotland.
It is already in absolutely magnificent condition – testament to the grow-in work by Steven Wilson and team – and you would barely know it opened in August.
I do think it will improve though, and that is why I believe it will rise in the Scotland and GB&I rankings from this slot.
I believe the design team that created the New did a very good job on a site that is relatively quiet in the opening and closing phases.
The project has been driven by Eric Trump and an experienced all-round team including Martin Hawtree – who designed the Old and did the original routing for the New – as well as Swedish architect Christian Lundin, who works with Henrik Stenson, and Canadian designer Christine Fraser.
The constant presences throughout construction were Esie O’Mahony and Jamie O’Reilly of Golflink, shaper Peter Scott and superintendent Wilson, all working under the direction of Trump and Trump Scotland’s Executive Vice President Sarah Malone.
It is a course of phases, with the pyrotechnics in the middle. The start has some good holes though, travelling over wetland that has been converted to linksy holes using sand from the awesome ‘southern dome’ that is home to that spectacular middle section.
The sight of ponds on a links discombobulate some and outrage links connoisseurs, but the holes themselves are solid and are far from a weak start.
The 5th and 6th are then in a heathy section and are followed by the uphill, eye-catching short 7th. From 8 to 14, though, come the real highlights. There are some holes, scenes, shots and moments that rival and probably surpass Trump (Old) for me – and bear in mind the Old is one of the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World.
I suspect that in time, the juxtaposition of pristine fairway and rough will be graduated and that will make it more playable; in a stiff wind, you currently need to hit good tee shots or get lucky in the rough.
It is not otherwise overtly penal, despite suggestions I’ve heard that the greens are ‘sporty’ – I thought their movement was harnessed by their scale. In that respect, the 15th green is a real standout.
The view from the 9th – whether on the tee or behind the green – complete with a massive blow-out bunker to the left, is epic.
That takes you to the southernmost point on the site, and from there you turn round and play the sporty two-shot 10th. The bold will have a go at driving this short par 4, although it really does have to be a fine shot to hold what is a shallow green.
The 11th also plays right along the coastline, and its greenside view is spectacular.
Ditto the 12th, the shortest hole on the course and home to a green oozing movement and fun putts.
The 13th offers another breathtaking tee view while the sporty, semi-blind 14th is packed with intrigue.
The closing quartet don’t quite have that same aesthetic appeal and drama, but the green shaping means you remain engaged and while the 18th might feel a long way up as you climb to the highest point on the property, the selfie opportunities with the North Sea behind are plentiful.
Eight of the panel have played Trump (New) and most would individually have it higher than this position. Where can it get to in time? Inside the Top 20 in Scotland is most people’s prediction, and I wouldn’t strongly disagree. That would take it close to the where the Old is and I do not believe there is too much between them.
Trump Scotland describes its offering as “The Greatest 36”, and while that is a very punchy claim when you consider Sunningdale et al, there is no doubt it is home to two world-class golf courses so close in quality that they will, in time, divide opinion as to which is the better.
What the expert panel said about Trump International New course
“The new Trump Scotland course is well deserving of a high ranking. The forward tees were brilliant, and the routing/greens kept my interest. I would put it above Dumbarnie and Machrihanish Dunes in the ranking.”
“The ‘Greatest 36 holes’ claim is as unashamedly bold as this brilliantly brash second Trump iteration. Holes 7 to 14 through dramatically towering dunes are the inescapably memorable highlight on a course liberally littered with them. I’d have it between Gullane No.1 and Dumbarnie.”
“I think Trump (New) will make it to around No.20 in Scotland eventually. I think holes 15 to 18 are a little step down in quality from the rest – but I’m not sure how they could have made them any better than they have.”
What Eric Trump says about the New course at Trump International Scotland
“My goal was to have people coming off the courses and be fighting over whether the Old or the New course was better.
There are very few 36-hole facilities in the world where you have that; you normally have one great course then a slightly lesser one. That’s the exact opposite of this.
The New has a very different feel. We wanted to have two courses that complemented each other – and they certainly do. They are both obviously on the ocean, going through dunes, but we really wanted the Old to go between dunes.
Some of the holes on the New, such as the 14th, you’ve got these unbelievable tunnels between the dunes, which are just so spectacular. The 2nd really goes over the dunes and you’re really riding up on the top of them, so the vast majority of your views are again to the North Sea.
They have different feels, different personalities based on one being a little lower. They both have tremendous teeth and are very challenging.
Some of the best land we had was actually on the southern part of the property, we just couldn’t get to it with the Old. So, this utilises that dunescape.
We spent over a decade working on the second course, getting it approved and permitted at tremendous cost. We barely got through. As we went through the process, many people said this is likely going to be the last true coastal dunes course built.
Who knows if that’s true, but I think we’re going to make Scotland very proud.”
