Donald Trump's golf business hurting as some facilities see fewer players, guests
Golf Culture

Donald Trump’s golf business hurting as some facilities see fewer players, guests

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President Donald Trump's golf courses and resorts are spread around the United States, Ireland, the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates. More are coming in Asia. However, as Trump's golf business has grown before he became Commander-in-Chief, a number of his facilities appear to be struggling now that he is in the Oval Office and has historically low approval ratings.

Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles, which is in Palos Los Verdes, Calif., has not only seen a decrease in the number of rounds but also in the number of weddings going there and TV shows filming there, with Hollywood slashing their booking at the facility by more than half in the two years since Trump entered the presidential race.

According to The Washington Post, green fee revenue is down 13 percent since Trump got in the presidential race in June 2015, basing that on city records. Charity golf tournaments, including from ESPN and the United Way, have left. The PGA of America had pulled its now-defunct Grand Slam of Golf from the facility. There hasn't been a wedding there since November 2016, when Trump won the election.

Of course, where Trump National L.A. sits is a heavily Democratic area, so the Republican president's golf course was likely to see a dip. The $300 green fee and the difficulty of the course are also, and have always been, deterrents to more regular play at the public facility Trump says it cost $277 million to get up to snuff. Meanwhile, the decline comes as the volume of rounds played across southern California has slightly increased.

Across the Atlantic Ocean, Trump Turnberry resort in Scotland took what's being spun by critics as an unnecessary bailout.

The resort was given a £110,000 tax rebate by the Scottish government in an effort to help businesses in the hospitality sector with a property tax cut after a large hike took effect. However, these rebates were designed to help struggling businesses that were not turning a profit. Turnberry's general manager said business is booming since the resort renovation of its accommodations, Ailsa and King Robert the Bruce courses, which were widely well-received, were completed.

“From the business we have on the books so far, the pace is telling me the Trump Turnberry will have its best year of revenue in 100 years,” general manager Ralph Porciani told The Guardian.

Trump International Golf Club, also in Scotland, was not eligible for the rebate as it is classified as a golf course, not a resort.

Some good, some bad so far for President Trump and his golf businesses.

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Ryan Ballengee

Ryan Ballengee is the founder, owner and operator of Golf News Net.

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