Trump International Scotland is a relatively new links course set amongst the great natural landscape of Scotland. You drive through the landscape on small roads and arrive a what could have been a course created many years ago. However the facility, clubhouse, short game area etc.. is what makes you realize that is of recent times. I started with a bit of short game practice.
Short game & driving range
The short game area is quite good and you immediately get an idea of what condition the course should be with nice greens and tightly maintained run off areas. I has a variety of greens to practice and the ability to hit different shots.
Good starting hole and very much like the course is designed. Naturally integrated into the landscape. Visually demanding as the dunes makes the fairway look narrower, but there is actually more space than the eye sees.
There is a burn running across the fairway and puts a bit more pressure on hitting a good tee shot. I hit a 3 wood safely right which left me with a 6 iron to the green.
Raised green with run off areas or bunker in play with a poor tee shot like mine. I hit a 7 iron right of the green and made bogey.
A really good and challenging par 5. Water up the right hand side and bunkers well placed in the fairway.
Always difficult to gauge the distance and pin position from a fairway like this. I came up right on front edge of the green and 3 putted for a bogey.
Favourite par 3
I came up short in the bunker on this good-looking par 3. There is more space on the left hand side than visual from the tee, but well designed hole and bunker to punish any off line shots.
A short par 4 with a narrow entrance to the above green that i elevated. I played safe from the tee with a 6 iron and wedge to the green.
10th hole has a tight entrance to the green as you can tell from above. Requires a good second shot to get a feel for where the green and pin is positioned.
best par 4
The stunning par 4 where you stand raised up from the fairway with beautiful views. I hit a perfect drive but a poor approach shot to make bogey.
A lot of well placed bunkers on this hole which is where I went from the tee to set up another bogey.
Best par 5
Definitely my favourite hole and one of the most spectacular finishing holes I have played. The starter told me to play this hole from the back tee at 651 yards.
I hit a perfect drive and a solid 3 wood to leave below approach shot.
Lob wedge to set up a pretty good birdie chance which would have been an amazing to finish on this hole, but had to settle for a par.
summary & score
I really enjoyed the course and understand why it gets a lot of good reviews. The design, layout and condition of the course is difficult to find any better for a new course like this one. Trump International has obviously not got the history as many other great courses in Scotland, but is still a really good course. I shot 82 with 2 double bogeys in decent weather with moderate winds.
