DONALD TRUMP LINKS
BEING BUILT
TO R&A’S OPEN
CHAMPIONSHIP
REQUIREMENTS
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Only nine courses have been used by the R&A to stage the Open championship over the past 50 years. It’s getting on for 30 years since a “new” one – Turnberry in 1977 - was added to the exclusive rota of links
Stand by to welcome No 10 in the not too distant future, says Neil Hobday, Project Manager for the Donald Trump International Links develop on the Menie House Estate at Balmedie.
When I first read the reports from the Press Conferences, I must admit I thought there was about as much chance of the brand new links at Balmedie – which won’t be begun until next summer at the very earliest – becoming an Open championship venue as me winning a gold medal at the London Olympics.
Now, having spoken at length with Neil Hobday on the subject, I am beginning to change my mind.
The Donald Trump International Links will certainly be the new kid on the block, trying to muscle in with ancient courses such as St Andrews’ Old Course, Muirfield, Carnoustie, Royal Troon, Royal Lytham, Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool and Royal St George’s.
But Hobday has an impressive CV. He is no pie-in-the-sky entrepreneur. He knows what he’s talking about.
Neil managed top European Tour players with both Mark McCormack’s International Management Group and Carnegie Sports International. Later he led Lyle Anderson’s operational team in the development of Loch Lomond Golf Club and also advised on the opening of Kingsbarns Links.
“It is our declared ambition to host the Open championship here over the Menie Estate links. We’re not frightened to admit it. We want to host the Open championship – and sooner rather than later,” said Neil.
“We have been to meet the Royal & Ancient and declare our intentions to them. They have been incredibly helpful in advising us on the criteria that they look for in their Open venues.
“Now, the rest is up to us. The R&A can do no more. They can’t make any promises but we now understand what it takes.
“The R&A have never set a limit on the number of courses on their Open rota but what they have to do is use the venues that can accommodate an Open championship and all that goes with it.”
Hobday thinks that in many ways being a brand new course, built to the required specifications of a major championship venue in the 21st Century, will be the ace card for the Donald Trump International Links.
OLD, OUT OF DATE COURSES
“It’s tough for some of the Open venues these days. These are old, old golf courses that towns have been built around in Victorian days and before. But the modern-day infrastructure requirements, the crowd levels these days and the corporate entertainment numbers all add up to huge undertaking,” said Neil.
“In contrast, we’ve got a blank canvas here. We’ve got 1,400 acres to plan within it here on the Menie Estate .. where the tented village would go, where the public car parking would be sited, etc, etc.
“But the key to it all is the golf course and we feel that on this property we can build the best links golf course in the world. No question. It’s a sensational property … there’s a majesty about it and the potential is there for all to see (The links land on the Menie House Estate is pictured above).
“We can create it, then it is out of our hands then. This is going to be a major development. Never mind on a Scottish scale, this will be the most significant mixed-use resort anywhere in Europe!
“My personal ambition has always been to become involved in the creation of a links course and to be involved in one like this capable of hosting an Open championship is very exciting, even for an old hand like me.”
Earlier this year Hobday met Peter Dawson, the Aberdeen-born secretary of the R&A, to update him on the Donald Trump International Links development plans and to underline the claim to be considered as an Open venue when ready.
TO MATCH ALL R&A CRITERIA
“The R&A line is absolutely clear: If the Menie Estate links course is built to match all the R&A criteria from a course and infrastructure point of view, then why wouldn’t they take the Open championship here at some future date?” said Hobday.
“But we have to build it first. We will not be asking the R&A for any special treatment. They are very busy people. They have a lot of things on their plate.
“We just have to get on with what we have to get on with and heed the advice they have given us. We will keep them abreast of how we are progressing.
“Of course, once you have a world-class links near Aberdeen, the Open championship is not the be-all and end-all. There’s the British amateur championship and the Walker Cup, not to mention from the women’s game, the Curtis Cup, the Vagliano Trophy and so on.
Interestingly enough, when Neil Hobday when to see Sir Michael Bonallack, Peter Dawson’s predecessor as R&A secretary, he was told that the R&A, in the late 1990s, commissioned a report on every single links course in Great Britain and Ireland to see if they could extend the number of venues on the Open championship rota.
“That report concluded that there was not one, not one that could be promoted as it were without a significant amount of work being done, not just on the course but on the infrastructure and all that kind of stuff.,” said Hobday.
“So the idea that a brand new links course with the required infrastructure and space could be tailor-made to the R&A’s specifications certainly intrigues and interests them.
“Quite apart from the course and all that, we will have to convince the R&A that Aberdeen is capable of hosting a successful Open championship, successful from a financial point of view. In that respect we are absolutely convinced that the North-east market and the Scottish market and, in particular, the corporate entertainment market that comes from London, Edinburgh and Glasgow for an Open championship, would support an Open at our resort in the North-east.
MAJESTIC, SENSATIONAL LAND
“The thing that gives us the confidence to think in these terms is the land we have here on the Menie House Estate. It’s so majestic. It’s so sensational.
“I think the property has the potential for 72 very good golf holes. The challenge is to pick the best 18 and then the next best 18 to make up two world-class championship courses.
“The central characteristic of the No 1 course is going to be the sand dunes and then, as far as the No 2 lay-out is concerned, it will be more what you perceive as a traditional links course with rolling movement in the ground, of which we have hundreds of acres like that.
“We’re blessed that we are going to be able to build two championship courses that will be quite different in style, quite distinct in character.
Some 95 per cent of the R&A’s income comes from the week of the Open championship. The money they take in, they use carefully all over the world to promote golf, help the growth of golf and so on.
“So it’s vitally important to the R&A that wherever the Open goes it’s an economic success because they rely on it to fund the development of golf worldwide and fulfil their mission statement,” said Hobday..
“They (the R&A) know this property, they know Aberdeen, they know the North-east of Scotland, they know the history of all the golf courses here – the North-east is the second largest golf region in Scotland outside Greater Glasgow, so if ever there were a region that deserved an Open championship, it’s the North-east of Scotland.
IT'S A WIN-WIN SITUATION
“The heritage, the golfers, the support is all here … the improving infrastructure of Aberdeen … the economy is here … the increase in golf tours into the North-east of Scotland is happening in front of our eyes.
“This resort will haul people here … not just golf tourists but business and leisure tourists. It’s kind of like flooding a reservoir: all ships rise at the same time.
“Our neighbouring golf courses will all benefit; people looking for jobs in this sector locally will benefit; North-east businesses will benefit from the economic flow of this resort. It’s a win-win situation.”

ANY COMMENTS? E-mail them to colin@scottishgolfview.com