Phil Mickelson's golf-course design firm has been selected to design a golf course that will bear the name of President Donald Trump.
Mickelson and his team will lead the re-design of a golf course that will be known as Trump International Golf Club at MNC Bali Resort, in Indonesia.
Mickelson will be tearing down Nirwana Golf Course, a design by Greg Norman, as part of a complete renovation by MNC Land of the Bali Nirwana resort.
"I’ve been fortunate to work on some great projects, but to contribute to what will be a six-star property is a rare and fabulous opportunity," Mickelson said in a release. "The site is breathtaking and we will create a golf experience that presents both exciting options for players on the course and memories for a lifetime."
This marks the second time a Trump Organization-owned or -managed property will be created by completely gutting a Norman design. (Doonbeg in Ireland was the other.) The Trump Organization will manage the entire Bali Nirwana resort fronting the Indian Ocean, marking the 19th golf property the company owns or manages.
The resort will close on July 31, 2017, with renovations to begin immediately thereafter. This partnership between MNC Land and the Trump Organization was announced in August 2015, in the early stages of Trump's run and ascension to the presidency. The ownership of MNC Land has been criticized for their ethics and their pursuit of a state-built toll road to support another resort in Java. The Bali resort overlooks the temple of Tanah Lot, one of the country's most sacred sites.
“Phil Mickelson’s track record as a professional golfer speaks for itself and we are thrilled to have his vision and talent for our latest development in such a beautiful location,” said Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of The Trump Organization. “We have a fantastic relationship with the entire Mickelson team and together with MNC Land will create one of the finest courses anywhere in the region and beyond.”
