Donald Trump is moving forward with his plans to purchase the Doral Golf Resort. The purchase price is $150 million. On top of that, he plans to invest $200 million in the resort near Miami and he's excited about it.
The name will also be changed, but only after the investment has been spent. Trump called the resort "a little bit tired," according to the Associated Press.
The golf course known as TPC Blue Monster will be shut down in 2013 for a redesign by Gil Hanse. He's the designer of the golf course for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Doral will become another great resort in a string of Trump investments. The Miami golf course will be the 12th of Trump's resorts that is tentatively named "Trump International Golf Club Miami." Trump owns other courses up and down the east coast, one in Los Angeles and his flagship golf resort in Scotland currently under construction.
The point of Trump's resorts are to be ultra-luxurious golf experiences that pamper anyone willing to pay and play at a world-class golf resort. Doral has hosted PGA events since 1962, a run that will end next year. There are four courses attached to Doral now, but the White Course was not included in the purchase price. The Red and Gold Courses will be renovated, but into what Trump has yet to determine.
Trump's mother was Scottish and his roots to golf are ancestral. Like he does with blighted properties in New York, Trump takes something useful and practical to create something amazing. The only bummer about Trump's investment is that resorts such as his will make golf less accessible to average fans. However, it is nice that someone with a lot of money is taking a keen interest in elevating the sport of golf.
When Trump sets the standard for luxury golf resorts, other properties will soon follow. He's like the Michael Jordan of golf resorts--Jordan elevated the game of those around him when he played by example. The results were six NBA titles. Trump is doing the same thing for golf courses. When course owners see what is being done, the designs will eventually filter down to regular courses so golf fans can play courses similar to Trump's.
William Browning has covered sports for the Yahoo! Contributor Network including golf and local golf courses in southwest Missouri. He currently resides in Branson, Mo.
