139 - Trump International

Location: Aberdeen, Scotland

Rating: 9.1

There’s no denying the quality and experience playing at Trump International. I was in two minds about playing here firstly because of the high cost but also for obvious reasons but I’m genuinely glad I made the decision to come play.

The course is in immaculate quality, I think you can sense the from the moment you drive onto the estate with the long road leading to the clubhouse with neatly cut grass both sides of the road.

I like the way they have designed the course with 4 holes going out (into the wind on the day I played) before turning around and playing some towards the clubhouse, passing it, with a few more holes with the wind and then finally two tough holes coming back towards the clubhouse into the wind.

The views off most of the tee boxes are stunning, if not of the course itself, then the beach and sea just over the other side of the dunes. The views off the 14th and 18th tee boxes in particular are to die for. Although the 18th tee shot directly into the wind is enough to make any golfer crumble.

The greens were lightning quick. I’d played Royal Aberdeen and Cruden Bay earlier in the week but hadn’t seen anything nearly as quick as the greens here.

The practice facilities are fantastic! There’s a driving range with the option of mat or grass hitting. There’s a lovely chipping, short game area with tiered greens and various flags to aim at and also another very big putting green to get to grips with the pace. Maybe I should’ve spent more time there.

Trump International has the nice touches you’d expect from a course of this stature with a lovely welcome back with course guide and a few other goodies inside.

At £250+ a round it’s obviously not cheap but if you’re in the area and playing the other courses I’d definitely suggest seriously considering it as it is a real golfing treat. It isn’t easy, there are many tough, gruelling, climbing holes but there are plenty of holes you can score well on.