Jack And Donald Open Ferry Point...Again

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I feel like this is at least the third golden shovel event, but should be the last as Trump Ferry Point is off and running. And receiving favorable reviews.

And based on their comments Tuesday, as reported by Hank Gola in the New York Daily News, majors are still very much on their mind. However the calendar for U.S. Opens appears filled until 2024 and the PGA Championship through 2022. The course does host the Barclays in 2017.

"It's going to stand the test of time and you're going to have some great events here, whether it's a U.S. Open or PGA Championship," Nicklaus said. "You're going to have a lot of events through time. Donald and I will be in a wheelchair, but that's all right, we're going to look down at it and say we had a part in that, proud of it and we did something that is going to be enjoyed by people for a long, long time. I'm very proud of that and very pleased that we had the opportunity to be involved."

Nicklaus is in Far Hills today to open the new Nicklaus Room at Golf House.

Rich Chere with a list of items on loan for the opening, with this accompanying video featuring Mike Trostel discussing a painting anchoring the permanent exhibit hall:

Trump Moves Forward In Aberdeen; First Look At Cruden's 9th

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Donald Trump has apparently forgiven Scotland for wanting to go ahead with their ugly offshore wind turbines enough to begin pushing forward plans to build a second course in Aberdeen.

Alistair Munro reports for The Scotsman on expansion plans submitted for Trump International Golf Links, where Martin Hawtree's original design may now be getting a second Hawtree course.

Mr Trump is also of the opinion the planned offshore turbines will never see the light of day – a belief rejected by the Swedish utility firm, Vattenfall, who are behind the scheme.

The American millionaire’s applications for the golf resort include public notifications for the second golf course – The MacLeod Course, to be named after his mother who hailed from Stornoway in Lewis.

The more exciting news from that great northeastern region of Scottish golf came from the Scottish Golf Podcast's Ru Macdonald, who Tweeted a photo of the remodeled 9th at Cruden Bay by Tom Mackenzie. Never the most thrilling green complex on a course full of thrills, the 9th got by on setting and as a nice respite between the wild 8th and thrilling tee shot of the 10th. But this winter's remodel has added just zest without trying too hard to stand out. Exactly what the hole needed to quiet anyone who dared to point out a weak link on a masterpiece.

 

The State Of The Donald

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His helicopter will be strategically parked and he'll be conspicuously present this week at Doral (as well as next week for another PGA of America-related announcement), so Steve DiMeglio takes stock of Donald Trump the golf course developer.

As I told John Patrick's radio show today, love him or hate him, The Donald has an entertainer's sensibility and seems to do a nice job reminding the PGA Tour that they are, in fact, supposed to be entertaining.

Even Commissioner Moonbeam is a fan...

Trump started building courses using some of the game's best architects. Then in 2008 when the market crashed, he started buying up existing golf properties and rebuilding them.

"I've always liked to say I'm a plus 10 (handicap) at building," Trump says.

He says he has no plans to expand his golf portfolio unless the right deal comes along. Such as the 800-acre Doral resort, which he snapped up out of bankruptcy in 2012 for $150 million. Trump pumped $250 million into a tired-looking resort in need of restoration, refurbishing the 643 guest rooms, updating a 48,000-square-foot spa and rebuilding and touching up 90 holes of golf, including the 18 of the famed Blue Monster course the PGA Tour stars will tackle this week.

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem says Trump is leaving a lasting mark on the sport.

"He has found a successful formula in purchasing wonderful properties like Trump National Doral Miami and then teaming with respected designers like Gil Hanse to bring these courses to their true potential," Finchem says.