Presidential Address

But on, it is said, the specific instructions of the Commander in Chief, an awe-inspiring 244-yard Par-3 has been chiseled out of the granite shoreline, demanding a 200-yard carry across a watery grave, placing this, unquestionably, amongst the finest holes in world golf.

The new Ailsa Course is relentless, barely a respite from a barrage of challenging Par-3s, hefty Par-4s and robust Par-5s, only the 408-yard, Par-4 13th offering any forgiveness, the 17th, one of three bruising Par-4s to finish, the 17th, at 506-yards fully deserving of its colloquial name, ‘Lang Whang,’ Scots for a, ‘Lengthy thwack.’

Last year, when I asked the then Republican candidate why an iconic, authentic and historic golfing institution needed the ‘Trump’ prefix, he insisted, wrongly in my judgment, that it added great value and prestige to be associated with his brand, but at least he has retained the traditional names of the holes, ‘Blaw Wearie,’ (Out of breath), the challenging Par-4 3rd hole, ‘Ca Canny,’ (Take care), the tough Par-3 15th, each and every hole with more than a few stories to tell, secrets to keep.

Donald J Trump has not got where he has, in politics, or in business without having an eye for the main chance, and he’s has taken it in abundance with the 485-yard, Par-4 finishing hole.

Martin Ebert was said to have been left in no doubt as to his client’s demand, just as he was with the 9th, to take the dogleg out of the 18th, named, ‘Duel-in-the-Sun,’ after the famous final hole drama in the 1977 Open Championship, the championship tee gazing, straight as a dye, at the Trump Turnberry Hotel, ensuring maximum TV exposure come tournament time.