Trump International (Aberdeen)

The apprehension was almost overwhelming – this was the day we were scheduled to play Trump International.

I had already knocked it around the 18 holes of his courses at Doonbeg in Ireland and the 36 at Turnberry, but in my head, this was a bigger deal.

Mrs W and I had watched You’d Been Trumped, a documentary that detailed the ultimately failed “David vs. Goliath battle” of a group of Scottish homeowners to prevent the development outside Aberdeen.

Since then, Donald Trump has become US President twice and is one of the most divisive characters on earth.

So much so that my podcast partner declined to play at Trump International and diverted for a round at Murcar instead.

We need not have got into such a lather.

Trump International is much more understated than its brasher siblings at Turnberry and Doonbeg.

We were later told that this is meant to have a traditional Scottish golf club feel, and that is precisely what it achieves.

There are plans to extend luxury accommodation in the future, but for now, the concentration is on golf, which is why complementary links are being opened this summer to complete “The Greatest 36.”

However, you cannot get away from the American influence on service. Everyone is on point from arrival onwards with cheery welcomes in the pro shop, clubhouse restaurant and from the starter.

No expense has been spared on the ‘old’ course, which opened in 2011 but continues to evolve.

We played on a crisp but sunny spring day and had time to hit some balls on the range, but not on the short-game area. We were told Phil Mickelson described the latter as “the best in the world.”

Almost every hole at Trump International is framed by enormous, grassed dunes with elevated tees on the vast majority.

So, the intimidation factor was present as early as the first, where the vivid green fairway snaked like a carpet between the long, light brown grass on the mounds surrounding it.

Fortunately, Mrs W and I overcame our nerves and found the landing area before ascending towards a green perched above three deep bunkers.

Another carry is required on the curving par-four second before an approach to the green over Menie Burn, which bisects the hole.

Once again, the green is cornered by heavy rough, so I was pleased to card a five and continue playing to handicap.

However, serious golf was parked in favour of comedy on the par-three third.

Firstly, our member host advised not to play to the left because of the stream that runs alongside the green and promptly clipped his ball into the water.

I followed his direction, but my ball, which had survived three games in Scotland, was precariously balanced on top of a tuft of grass.

I managed to make contact without toppling into the drink, but the ball flew into the bunker where Mrs W was settling to play.

Apparently, she had experienced her own calamity when her trolley fell into the trap just as she was addressing her ball.

The Blairton Burn runs down the right of the par-five fourth with three Colt-esque bunkers adding to the obstacles as the player approaches a green with wild undulations.

Champagne should have flowed on the glorious sixth – a par-three set in the dunes with a giant mound on the left and intense fall-off on the right.

For a heart-stopping moment, the ball disappeared and then re-emerged, stopping four feet from the flag. I missed the tap-in birdie!

Another chance and comedic failure followed on the seventh – a par-four that is so short that even I nearly reached the target with the wind.

However, buoyed by the chance of birdie (or even eagle!), I putted from off the green, and watched in dismay as a bank sent the ball right of the pin and down into a swale off the green. 

The new course at Trump International is adjacent to the ninth and looks in great shape ahead of its opening later this summer.

Meanwhile, we completed the first half on a par-four that curves inside dunes and bunkers to a long and narrow green in front of the clubhouse and what must be the biggest Scottish flag in Alba.

The layout and the views of the back nine were even more stunning than those going out.

The par-five 10th is especially memorable with an uphill drive from tees among heather towards a funnel of fairway between dunes.

Fortunately, the hole looks more intimidating than it is, and keen course management allows a short shot into a target surrounded by the tallest sandhills on the property. 

Our host tried to cut the corner of the 11th, a 90-degree dogleg over substantial mounds. As he can testify, failing to find the hidden fairway will result in a lost ball.

It is followed by possibly the most difficult stroke-index 16 I have encountered. 

The 12th is a par-four from an elevated tee that bends towards a green as potential awaits with a fall-off into the rough down the left.

After the par-three 13th, it is certainly worth ascending the dunes to admire the magnificent view across the length of the beach and back over the course.  

The player is then faced with a shot down into the 14th fairway, which seemed like a mere gully between substantial dunes, before an uphill shot into a green defended by a bunker on the right.

One of my favourites is the short par-four 15th, which demands a drive between large fescue-lined sand traps before a turn to a rolling green tucked between dunes behind another sand trap.

The 18th at Trump International is as dramatic and difficult as any home hole that I have encountered.

From the elevated white tee, bunkers seem to fill the horizon. Indeed, there are 18 to avoid before the final putt is made.

The champagne moment belonged to our host for walking away from this monster with a par.

It was a cracking finale to a round that had justified our decision to tee it up on the course that Donald Trump built.