Donald Trump’s golf empire: From gold-plated statues to ‘Mona Lisa’ courses

The Trump Organisation’s golf empire now stretches across roughly 16 properties worldwide, and Doonbeg in County Clare ranks among its prized holdings. More courses are in the pipeline, extending a portfolio that began with the acquisition of West Palm Beach in Florida in 1999.

The group has since bought famous venues such as Turnberry in Scotland, which has hosted The Open four times, while also developing courses from scratch. This year, the Trump brand has drawn all of the major men’s professional tours to its properties. The Irish Open at Doonbeg will be the sixth 2026 tournament staged on a Trump-owned course.

The other events include the Cadillac Championship at Doral on the PGA Tour, LIV tournaments at Bedminster and Virginia, the Nexo Championship on the DP World Tour, and the Staysure PGA at Trump Aberdeen on the Legends Tour. LIV has held at least one event at a Trump course every season since the circuit began in 2022, although the future of its tournaments now faces uncertainty after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund withdrew financial support, the article says.

The R&A remains the notable exception. Turnberry has not appeared in the recent rotation for The Open, golf’s oldest major championship. Its last staging came in 2009, when Stewart Cink won the Claret Jug. The article presents that continued absence alongside the sport’s strong commercial connection to Trump-branded venues.

Trump’s portfolio includes courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Greg Norman and Martin Hawtree. Two are identified as Donald Trump Signature Courses: Trump National Los Angeles and Trump National Washington DC, the latter developed with contributions from Fazio and Arthur Hills. Doonbeg was designed by Greg Norman in 2002.

LIV chief executive Scott O’Neil offered an enthusiastic explanation for the circuit’s presence at Trump courses, saying, “When you come to a Trump course, it’s something special. It starts with the people ... they attract some of the most wonderful people who can stop on a dime, who can pivot, who understand service, who understand what world-class golf courses mean and need.” Eric Trump, the organisation’s executive vice-president, oversees the worldwide golf resorts, including Doonbeg, and takes a hands-on role in the expanding operation.

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When you come to a Trump course, it’s something special. It starts with the people ... they attract some of the most wonderful people who can stop on a dime, who can pivot, who understand service, who understand what world-class golf courses mean and need.