Trump International (New)

The New Course, which opened in 2025, has become the second glorious 18-hole layout at Trump International.

 

Following on from the Old Course, the addition of the New Course has given the Aberdeenshire the self-proclaimed strapline of the "Greatest 36 Holes in Golf".

 

As with the Old Course, Martin Hawtree was influential in the design of the New at Trump International, which winds its way through a range of different terrain on the Scottish coastline.

 

 

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In 2006, Trump purchased a plot of 1,400 acres, just north of Aberdeen with the intention of turning it into a $1 billion golf course.

The Old Course (as it is now known), the first phase of the project, officially opened on July 10th, 2012. The course has become a host of both the European Legends Tour and the DP World Tour in recent years, becoming the host to the Staysure Seniors PGA Championship, the flagship event of the Legends Tour.

 

2025 then saw the opening of the New Course, another Martin Hawtree design, this time with the help of Christine Fraser and Christian Lundin.

 

As with its older brother, the New Course at Trump International is what you might class as the American version of links golf. The course is highly manicured, with stunning fairways and gorgeous green complexes. However, it is also a layout where if you go slightly offline, thick rough and fescue will come into play. Keep the ball down the middle, and on the short grass, and there are scoring opportunities to take - providing you're playing from the appropriate tees.
 

And when we talk about appropriate tees, you won't be wanting to play the New Course at Trump International from the tips. Leave that to the professionals, as the back tees push to almost 7,600 yards! Even from the Blues (the third-longest), the New Course is still more than 6,700 yards. So please, make sure you play from the right tees to give yourself a chance!

 

Just like the Old Course, the New is bookended by par 5s. The opener on the New Course is 520 yards from the Blue, and one where the longer hitters might need to think about what club to take, due to the pinching in of the short grass. The 2nd is a long par 4, with the tee shot being the first of several to be played over water. At 420 yards, it will require two good hits to find the surface. The first of the epic short holes comes as early as the 3rd, one where there is just a narrow sliver of grass between two water hazards to take you to the green. At 180 yards, it will be a long iron at least.

 

The 4th is the Stroke Index 1 on the New Course. This 395-yard par 4 features multiple water hazards down the right side, all coming within feet of the edge of the fairway. Accuracy is vital throughout, with water also sitting in front of the green. Thankfully, the 5th is dry, but there is plenty of sand around instead. At 442 yards, it is one of the longer par 4s on the course.

 

Another par 5 follows, this time in the form of a dog-leg left. At 525 yards, the longer hitters might fancy their chances of taking the green on with their second shots, but water at the back and to the right of this green may leading to second thoughts... At 165 yards, the 7th is not the longest par 3, but it will feel longer simply thanks to the danger that lies in front of the green. Two large water hazards, a burn and a quartet of bunkers all need to be carried to get you from the tee box to the putting surface safely.

 

From there, a quartet of par 4s take you around the turn on the New Course, all of which offer different challenges, with yardages of 370, 415, 260 and 400. The 8th is one of the wider fairways to find on this track, and there is space to the right on the approach for anything slightly mishit. 9 and 11 are somewhat similar, in the fact the fairway pinches in from the left side for the longer hitters. However, 9 is exposed to the wind, while the 11th is back in and amongst the dunes. The 10th is a great scoring chance at just 260 yards. With the North Sea on your right, though, do you opt to play safe and lay up?

 

From the Blues, the 12th is the shortest hole on the course at just 138 yards. It is a par 3 where you simply cannot go right, as you'll be reaching into your bag for another golf ball. It might be short, but danger lurks all around. 13 and 14 are both medium-length par 4s, with the former requiring you to think off the tee, as driver might not necessarily be the play. A wide fairway on 14 looks generous, but it gets narrower the further you hit your tee shot.

 

You then get into the longest part of the course. From the tips, 15 is almost 650 yards, and even from the Blues, it nudges towards 600. It is an amazing dog-leg right, with no fewer than 11 water hazards in play throughout. A burn runs all the way down the first two-thirds of the hole, before then dissecting the fairway as the hole turns to the right. If you can keep the ball in the fairway here, then a par is a fantastic score on 15. For tournament play, the par 3 16th can stretch to 278 yards. Thankfully, it is only 205 yards off the Blues. Large sandscapes are in view off the tee, and must be carried to find the large putting surface.

 

The 17th is the last, and longest of the par 4s, at 455 yards. It does usually play downwind, though, which will be a slight relief after the last two holes. A burn intersperses the fairway with about 120 yards to go, so for all bar the longest of hitters, it won't come into play off the tee. The bunkers on either side, will, as will the plethora of sand around the green. And as with the Old, the New also ends with a great par 5. However, on the 18th of the New Course, the tee shot is almost blind, but there are the familiar pockets of bunkers as with the original closing hole at the property. An infinity green awaits your final approach, as you ake your way back to the clubhouse.

 

Trump International sits on the northeastern coastline of Scotland, just outside the village of Balmedie. It is around 20 minutes from the centre of Aberdeen, and the course overlooks the North Sea. The A90 is just a couple of miles inland from the venue, making it easy to get to from Aberdeen as well.

 

For international visitors, Aberdeen Airport is the closest major international airport, sitting around 15 miles from Trump International. Dyce, which is at the airport, is also the nearest train station. Edinburgh Airport, which services the nation's capital, is 140 miles south of the venue.

 

How many courses are there at Trump International Golf Links?  
There are now two courses at Trump International. The Old Course has been joined by the New Course, with the latter opening in 2025.

 

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Scotland venues nearby?  
Trump International is one of several venues in the Aberdeenshire area. Cruden Bay, with both its Championship Course and St Olaf Course, is 15 miles to the north, with Peterhead's Craigewan Course a further 10 miles past that. Murcar Links, Royal Aberdeen and the Hawkshill Course at Newmachar are are all within 10 miles of Trump International to the south and west.

What golf facilities does Trump International offer?  
Along with the two courses, Trump International has some of the best practice facilities in the country. There is a full-length driving range, played into the prevailing wind to get you ready for the round - all played off grass tees. There is also a world class short game area and a large putting green, the latter sitting between the clubhouse and the opening holes of both courses.
 

What are the green fees at Trump International?
The price of a green fee at Trump International changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. 

 

For more information on current green fees at Trump International, visit their booking site here.

 

 

Visit Trump International's website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.