Doral Is Back! Trump Resort To Host LIV Golf's Team Championship For Its Non-Team Event Tour

The fountain at Trump Doral.

Bob Harig at Morning Read/SI had the news first: Trump Doral will host October’s concluding eighth event of the LIV Golf Invitational Series. The famed Blue Monster course was site of the PGA Tour’s annual Miami stop beginning in 1962 and until the PGA Tour left for Mexico City’s WGC event, now defunct.

Harig writes:

After five years away, Doral will get professional golf again under Norman’s LIV Golf banner, the $30 million Team Championship in which the four-man winning team will split $16 million.

As you may recall Commissioner Greg Norman and friends have abandoned a team concept for 7 individual events followed by this concluding tournament. Harig has also reported that 15 top 100 players have registered and may seek releases from their Tours.

Either way, expect former President Donald Trump to add to October’s spectacle, whatever format is used to give out $30 million of Public Investment Fund money. It should be fun.

When Doral was dumped by the Tour, he said…

"I just heard that the PGA Tour is taking their tournament out of Miami and moving it to Mexico," Trump said in an interview with Fox News in May of 2016. "It's at Doral ... they used one of my places. They're moving their tournament; it's the Cadillac World Golf Championship. And Cadillac's been a great sponsor, but they're moving it to Mexico. They're moving it to Mexico City which, by the way, I hope they have kidnapping insurance.

"But they're moving it to Mexico City. And I'm saying, you know, what's going on here? It is so sad when you look at what's going on with our country."

Well it’s back and funded by folks who’ve done a little kidnapping and slaughtering themselves. It comes full circle.

WaPo: Trump Involved In Bringing Saudi Golf League Events To His Properties

The golf audience already knows of a likely Trump/Saudi Golf League partnership if they’ve listened to No Laying Up’s podcasts or assumed the worst combination of character possible.

Still, to see the Washington Post’s Josh Dawsey and Jonathan O’Connell report on a possible partnership and the ensuing reporting as a national story will do wonders for all involved. And this detail suggests the former President has been active in the recruiting process.

Officials from LIV Golf Investments, the apparatus funded by the Saudis to host the tour, have held conversations with the Trump Organization, these people said.

One of the people familiar with the matter said Trump had spoken to Greg Norman, the head of LIV Golf Investments, about having his properties involved in the tour.

It really is a match made in Heaven or wherever all of these game growers will land some day.

Trump's Scotland Losses Blamed On Brexit

Despite £3.3m in emergency support from the UK government during 2020’s pandemic, Trump properties at Turnberry and Balmedie show the businesses lost £4.7 million. Severin Carrell reports for The Guardian.

The resorts reported heavy losses due to their enforced closure during the lockdowns: the headline loss for Turnberry was £3.4m, after a £321,000 profit in 2019, and £1.3m at Balmedie, compared to a loss of £1.1m in 2019.

The story notes that this is the ninth consecutive year that Trump International near Aberdeen has reported a loss.

Also from the filing: the Trump’s blamed also Brexit for impacting the family business, notes The Daily Beast’s Justin Rorhlich.

Three months before he won the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Donald Trump gave himself a new nickname: Mr. Brexit. After the nation voted to break away from the rest of Europe, Trump appeared at Turnberry, his golf course in Scotland, and commended the Brits who “took back their country.” He later said Brexit was “a great advantage for [the] UK.” But, in true Trumpian fashion, Brexit wasn’t great for Trump personally. According to a financial disclosure filed with Scottish authorities and signed by Eric Trump, Brexit “impacted our business as supply chains have been impacted by availability of drivers and staff, reducing deliveries and availability of certain product lines.”

Turnberry has since seen higher prices, which have “increased from additional freight and import duty charges,” the filing states. “Staff availability has been a challenge from a combination of wage inflation with retail and logistics sectors increasing wages to attract staff due to increased business levels,” it says. And, it explains, “[T]he staffing pool has been reduced with lack of access to European staff for businesses in general resulting in greater demand for individuals previously available to the resort.”

Who could have seen that coming?

"Widely different valuations" On Trump National LA Under Scrutiny

Pete Bevacqua, Paul Levy, Donald Trump and Derek Sprague at Trump National Los Angeles, June 2015 (Geoff Shackelford)

David A. Fahrenthold, Jonathan O'Connell, Josh Dawsey and Shayna Jacobs report that New York state Attorney General Letitia James is considering a lawsuit or convening a grand jury to hold the Trump Organization accountable for wildly different property valuations.

Because Donald Trump was a resident of New York, James is able to investigate the valuation of Trump National Los Angeles, a.k.a. the-better-than-Pebble Beach-because-it’s-on-an-ocean course Trump purchased. And the shaky cliffs of the old Ocean Trails just keep on causing headaches, this time with regard to homesites overlooking the Palos Verdes course.

In 2012, Trump’s “Statement of Financial Condition”— a document that is typically used to demonstrate value to potential lenders — said the course had “52 home sites available for sale,” indicating a potential source of future cash flow.

At the time, however, the club had only received approvals for 36 home sites and six of them had already been sold, according to public records.

In May — after Reuters published an article on the club’s fluctuating valuations — investigators from James’s office contacted the city of Rancho Palos Verdes. They asked for hundreds of thousands of pages of documents, covering the history of the club’s efforts to get home lots approved, according to an email exchange released by the city’s lawyers.

They also wanted reports on the geology under the course — the factor that had limited Trump’s ability to develop it. “We will take any reports you were able to find issued from the year 2000 and forward,” a staffer for James wrote, according to an email that the city’s attorneys provided The Washington Post.

But don’t forget, better than Pebble Beach, which is on a bay, not the Pacific.

Satellite Images Of Trump Aberdeen Show Dramatic Changes To Dunes System

Business Insider’s Thomas Colson looks at Maxar aerials from 2010 and 2021 to spot changes in the dunes system. At the time Donald Trump vowed stabilize the dunes system but scientists now say they’ve been damaged by the introduction of golf:

Despite warnings in 2008 that the construction of an 18-hole course would destroy the sand dunes around it, Trump had pressed ahead, saying: "We will stabilize the dunes. They will be there forever. This will be environmentally better after it [the course] is built than it is before."

But as conservationists predicted, the part of the highly sensitive ecosystem on which Trump International Golf Links was built was largely ruined. Officials announced in December 2020 that the coastal sand dunes Trump's the resort would lose their status as a protected environmental site because they had been partially destroyed.

You can see more images and close-ups at the story link.

Ferry Point: NYC Selects Homeless Shelter Operator To Replace Trump*

The City’s Claudia Irizarry Aponte reports on the no-bid awarding of Trump Ferry Point’s operations contract to CORE, a concessionaire working for the city on homeless shelters, who have teamed with Atlanta’s Bobby Jones Links.

The Trump Organization has been ordered to vacate by November 14 but is vowing to fight the move, a byproduct of the January 6th insurrection inspired by then-President Donald Trump.

Ken Caruso, an attorney representing the Trump Organization in the pending suit, said de Blasio is off course.

“The city has no right to award the license to another operator,” said Caruso. “The Trump Organization’s long-term license for this property is legally binding, enforceable, and remains in full force and effect.”

He called the contract cancellation “a mere pretext that Mayor de Blasio used as a cover for his political retaliation.”

And Caruso said Trump would do combat with the new golf course operator, too.

“The city’s position has no legal merit and we will continue to vigorously defend our right to possession and control of the property for the remainder of the 20-year term, against both the city and anyone to whom the city purports to issue a replacement license,” Caruso added.

It’s the latest twist in a saga that once had the Ferry Point site under consideration for major tournaments. The current website remains the (glorious) same, and a look at tee times suggest the course is pretty busy on weekends.

*Seems the above report led to the homeless shelter operator WD’ing from the deal, reports Aponte in a follow up story.

Civic Group Wins Ruling That Might Force Trump To Explain Turnberry Financing

The New York Times’ Stephen Castle explains the latest twist in Scotland’s troubled relationship with the Trump Organization after a judge ruled in favor of online campaign group Avaaz.

But on Wednesday a judge ruled that Avaaz, an online campaign group, should be given the right to challenge the government’s rejection of calls for such a move.

Nicknamed “McMafia orders,” unexplained wealth orders were introduced in 2018 to strengthen the government’s armory against organized crime. Those subject to them can ultimately be forced to forfeit their assets if they are unable to explain satisfactorily how they were purchased.

Though it remains far from clear that such an investigation will ever arise in this case, Wednesday’s court decision is nonetheless a setback for Mr. Trump, whose financial and tax dealings are under investigation in the United States.

Severin Carroll has followed the story for some time and noted this in his Guardian piece:

Recent accounts show the Turnberry business owes Trump £114m, and the Aberdeenshire estate £44m.

Sandison allowed the Avaaz application to proceed even though it was technically time-barred, and also decided a future judicial review could investigate Trump’s finances, not just the dry technical question of whether ministers can order a UWO inquiry.

After rejecting the government’s protests that the petition was filed too late, the judge ruled there were clear matters of public importance raised by the Avaaz case.

“The question comes to be whether the petition raises matters of such live and substantive public importance as to render it in the interests of justice to allow it to proceed out of time,” Sandison said.

Follow-Up: Protestors Camp Outside Winged Foot, Trump Thanks Club For "Love And Spirit" In The Room

After NBC News revealed a controversial August 4th celebration of Donald Trump hosted by Winged Foot members, protestors said they planned to greet the former President upon his return to the storied club. And they did.

Trump issued a statement thanking the club for honoring him, with proof the gala went ahead along with pristine turf for the old autocrat:

NEW!

President Donald J. Trump:

"Thank you to Winged Foot Golf Club for honoring me last night. There was true love and spirit in the room. It is a great and well-run place!" pic.twitter.com/Jtoh2kNdgc

— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) August 5, 2021

The protestors out front can be seen, with more images here if you’re looking to see the Winged Foot entrance and initials in a new light.

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A post shared by Amy Siskind (@amy_siskind)

Protestors Planning To Welcome Trump For Winged Foot's Celebration Of His Presidency

According to an NBC News report, Winged Foot members were already expecting security related disruptions when former President Donald Trump arrives August 4th for a celebration of his presidency.

Now, according to Abby Luby at The Examiner News, members arriving to the storied U.S. Open site that day can expect protestors. Leading one organizational effort is author and activist Amy Suskind, quoted in the story.

Pushback to Trump’s Winged Foot gala is expected, along with demonstrations in Briarcliff Manor the following day at an invitation-only Republican fundraiser at the Trump National Golf Club Westchester. The event is charging an entry fee of $1,000 per person. A photo-op with Trump costs $5,000 a couple, and to take part in a reception, a roundtable, and a photo-op costs $25,000 per couple.

“Trump’s not welcome either place,” said Siskind, adding that organizing protests is not only happening in Briarcliff Manor and Mamaroneck, but she has heard people were upset and shocked by the Winged Foot Gala from as far away as Oregon and Massachusetts. “Organizing is getting underway — activism takes a few days to come together.”

Meanwhile, the club has deleted its Twitter account after news of the celebration was revealed by NBC News.

Squabbling At Winged Foot: Members At Odds Over Plans To Honor Trump

Jonathan Allen and Liz Brown-Kaiser of NBC News report that Winged Foot members are at odds over plans for an August 4th banquet tribute to former President Donald Trump. The hosts are Ted Virtue and Paul Queally, who plan to golf with Trump before a “tribute banquet”.

Virtue is the Trump Westchester member who gave up his club championship win for Trump.

From the story:

But some members are furious that the club is moving forward with the plan to honor Trump, according to two sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Those members were angered and disgusted by Trump's role in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol and his treatment of racial and ethnic minorities, according to a club member who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid retribution from fellow members. Queally repeatedly has been criticized over the years for making misogynistic, homophobic and anti-minority remarks.

The anti-Trump club members have not taken aggressive action to stop the banquet, but they have informally asked members of the board to intervene — to no avail. They believe they are speaking on behalf of employees of the club who are afraid that speaking out would cost them their jobs, the member said.

The story also notes how some of the course will have to be closed for security reasons:

"Club management AND board praying it comes and goes unnoticed," a club member said in a text message. "All pretty hush-hush, and no club announcement. But Secret Service will have to close down some of the course."

Trump Predicts Turnberry Will Host The Open Again And He’s Right!

An extra-special bit of meandering lunacy from the the 45th President of the United States was issued after apparently watching The Open at Royal St George’s. Thanks to reader Chuck for sharing.

Donald Trump is definitely correct here. Turnberry will host again. Just as soon as he sells it.

From the “many-time Club Champion” who says “controversy only makes thing hotter”:

"Trump may well rue the day he brought the lawsuit."

James D. Zirin is a former federal prosecutor with a special interest in dissecting Donald Trump’s lawsuits.

Given the news of the Trump Organization suing over the voiding of its Trump Ferry Point contract after the January 6th insurrection, he explains in this Washington Post guest piece how the wide-open discovery process might backfire.

Attorneys for the city undoubtedly will want to probe in discovery the state of Trump’s finances. He is said to be deeply in debt. His precarious financial situation may disqualify him from operating a tournament-worthy golf course. They will also want to go into what Trump meant on Jan. 6 when he perpetuated the “big lie,” asserting that there had been mass election fraud, encouraging an unruly mob of his supporters to go to the Capitol and “fight like hell” to stop the certification of an election he had “won in a landslide” and to “take back our country.” The city will certainly call witnesses from the PGA and the British Open who would be expected to testify that they canceled plans for tournaments at Trump golf courses because Trump’s name has become mud.

The city lawyers will seek financial documents to show any connection between the Bronx golf course and Trump’s other business interests. They will want to probe the cost and quality of the improvements Trump claims he made, and may even go into the source of the money. If Trump borrowed the money, they will subpoena the banks and probe his banking relationships, including the financial statements he gave the banks to obtain the loans. They could even get into his controversial tax returns. Trump may well rue the day he brought the lawsuit.

Trump Sues New York Over Ferry Point Contract Termination

The Trump Organization, which had a 20-year contract to operate Ferry Point in the Bronx, claims it was unfairly targeted by Mayor Bill DeBlasio.

Jonah Bromwich of the New York Times reports on the Trump Organization is suing New York City for wrongful termination of the Ferry Point contract. In a statement, the company told the Times the course was “widely recognized as one of the most magnificent public golf experiences anywhere in the country.”

Plenty of tee times still available, especially with those twilight rates…

Anyway, this from Bromwich’s piece:

Now, the organization has made its case in an 18-page petition saying that it was never obliged to attract an actual tournament but merely to maintain “a first class tournament quality daily fee golf course.” The petition included several statements from professional golfers, including Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau, attesting to the course’s being “first class” and “tournament quality.”

A spokesman for the city’s law department said that it would “vigorously defend” its decision to terminate the contract and that it “looked forward to selecting a new vendor for Ferry Point.”

Trump Ferry Point Situation May Become A Long Saga

AP’s Bernard Condon considers the possibility that New York City may not be able to break its contract with Trump Golf over the former President’s January 6th role.

The city intends for November 14th to be the last day of Trump Golf’s management deal. Eric Trump says the organization should be paid $30 million to go away.

Condon writes:

In response to questions from The Associated Press, the city referred to legal filings insisting Trump’s actions leading up to the riot caused a “plain and irrefutable” breach of the contract and that the Trump Organization’s last day running the course will be Nov. 14.

Area landscaper and sometime Trump course golfer Sean DeBartolo, who often drives past the hillside sign spelling out “TRUMP LINKS” in giant stones, says he could offer a temporary solution: Fill in those letters with sod and wait for tempers to cool.

“Worst-case scenario, it’s only going to cost a couple of thousand,” says the owner of DeBartolo Landscaping in nearby New Rochelle. “It’d be three guys and it’d be done in a day.”

Joe Biden Plays His First Golf Round As President

It’ll be tough to reach Donald Trump’s 150 (or so) rounds of golf as President, but Joe Biden has his first round in the books.

According to Yahoo News’ Sebastian Smith, the round took place at Wilmington Country Club, home to the 2022 BMW Championship and where Biden joined in 2014. He was sporting a Beau Biden Foundation cap and Wilmington vest for those analyzing his fashion choices.

The Democrat's motorcade swept into the Wilmington Country Club for the unannounced outing around lunch time. Clearly surprised members of the private, upscale club paused between swings and putting to watch, some whipping out cellphones to film the spectacle.

The White House said Biden's playing partners were Ron Olivere, father-in-law of Biden's late son Beau, and senior advisor Steve Ricchetti.

This was not just the first time Biden has devoted a day to golf since taking over from Trump in January, but likely the first time many Americans realized that he plays at all.

One eye-opener when I searched Twitter for Biden and golf for photos: accounts that the President was dazed and confused according to a linked report. The site where this “report” supposedly sat? Progolfweekly.com and there was no such story posted and only one on Biden from last year.

The bots never sleep!

AP’s Jonathan Lemire Tweeted this photo of Biden and round recap from the President:

And Biden joked, after finishing his first round of golf as president, that “the course record was still intact” pic.twitter.com/LGJwoqAM7h

— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) April 17, 2021