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USA Today
12-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Great walks: Architect of McLemore's The Keep says 'you just don't ever want to go home'
Great walks: Architect of McLemore's The Keep says 'you just don't ever want to go home' McLemore Resort has come a long way in a short time, its ascent as steep as the cliff above which it sits atop Lookout Mountain. Already home to the Highlands Course, ranked by Golfweek's Best as the No. 3 public-access course in Georgia, the resort property last year added Cloudland, a luxurious new addition to the Curio Collection by Hilton. With 245 guest rooms, many of which offer simply ridiculous views across the cliff's edge and of surrounding mountains – plus 20,000 square feet of event space, a spa and a wide array of dining options – Cloudland has elevated McLemore's accommodations into rare air. Up next: The Keep. Already accepting limited preview play, this new 18-hole course takes the clifftop theme to new heights. With five of its 18 holes playing directly on the cliff's edge, offering long views across the valley below, this newest addition has a planned grand opening of Sept. 8 with a clubhouse and amenities to follow at a yet-to-be-determined date. And it's not just the cliffside holes – the more inland holes play across higher ground, offering full views across the mostly open course and the cliff beyond. The Keep was built by the design partnership of Bill Bergin and Rees Jones, with Bergin as the lead architect. Bergin is a former touring golf professional who spent many years in Europe and played in more than 250 events, including three U.S. Opens and two British Opens. He launched Bergin Golf Designs in 1994 and has been involved in more than 100 course projects. Bergin's work includes a renovation to McLemore's original course, Highlands, where he and Jones introduced a new par-4 18th hole that hugs the cliff with such intimacy as to induce panic in any golfer with a fear of heights – it's often cliché to call a golf hole stunning, but in this case and for some such golfers, it's an appropriate use of the word. Following are a few of Bergin's thoughts and recollections on designing The Keep, edited for length. Golfweek: Just going back in time about four years, what were your impressions the first time you got up to the site that would become The Keep? Bill Bergin: All it had on it were some Jeep trails, and it was all covered with trees. When we were going to take somebody out there, we would take the Jeep trail that stopped basically at the end of the ground that we used for golf, which happens to be about where the 18th green is now. And there was a tiny opening there with beautiful, native fescue grasses. Nobody had planted them, they were just there. And there was a rock outcropping that allowed you to sit right on the edge of this rock, and it dropped off more than 50 feet. You looked out over the entire place, and it was sort of overwhelming. Everybody wanted to get to that spot. That was pretty exciting the first time. There were enough little trails that we were able to get around the site. We found an old still, believe it or not – I wouldn't have wanted to drink anything that was made out of that still. I could assure you that was not trustworthy alcohol. The difference between The Keep and the other course is, the other course has valleys, and it gets to the cliff edge, and it's actually more diverse terrain. It was obviously routed through that diverse terrain, but that caused some pretty good distances between greens and tees, with carts being a must on that golf course. At The Keep, our managing partner called it 'mountain flat.' Well, I know better than that, but it is really pretty. So maybe that was the proper term. What excited you about doing the routing for The Keep? Actually, I routed two golf courses. I routed for 36 holes with The Keep intact now as one set of those 18 holes. That's how good the land was. I literally could put 36 holes on it if they wanted. But being able to use the best land and the best views for the golf course, I've never worked on a project like that where that's been available, because there's always a consideration for something else. And the consideration for The Keep was 100 percent golf. It's definitely a core golf course. Then we started the routing process, and of course you're going to use that cliff's edge, and that becomes the unique part of the routing process. So these were really early days of examining the property, and Duane (Horton, CEO and president of Scenic Land Company) didn't care about returning nines but more about starting and finishing at the spot where we met on that property the first time. Every time we'd go look at the property, we'd go to that spot, and that's where the golf course starts and finishes. So that's pretty cool. No. 18 green kind of plays down toward it. There were some old fold-up lawn chairs there back when we first started looking at the property. And now there will be some Adirondack chairs in the same general area. There's really something very, very special at that spot. It's the kind of place where you want to have a nice Scotch or a bourbon or whatever your drink of choice, and you just don't ever want to go home. Would you describe it as a once-in-a-lifetime site for an architect? It certainly feels like it. No one would call this a site that was just made for golf, because it's rocky. We were building on rock, not sand. So what looks like an easy course to build was very challenging. Below the turf, we didn't have to move a bunch of dirt. We didn't have any dirt to move, honestly. We cleared about 200 acres and only moved about 300,000 cubic yards of dirt, most of it around Nos. 1, 13 and 17, right in there. Otherwise, the golf course just lays on the ground beautifully. We have five holes right on the cliff, and we go along the cliff from the tip of property to the far tip of property. You have quite a bit of width out there at The Keep. Most of the fairways are quite wide, a few with centerline bunkers or even divided fairways. Why was width important for The Keep? The scale of the property dictated that we wanted a big golf course. The big views influence that scale. And once you size up the scale in your mind, everything really needs to fit that. Big fairways, big bunkers, lots of tee options. So we have about 90 acres of basically fairway-cut grass. And then we have 90 acres of native fescue grass. The other thing about it, when you clear 200 acres on the edge of Lookout Mountain, wind becomes a factor. Not every day – some days are just spectacularly gorgeous – but often there's a breeze out there. And if we didn't have those big playing corridors, it would be way too hard. And so that width gives players the ability to be comfortable off the tee, and then you have to become more precise the closer you move to the green. Hopefully we've created enough strategic interests where positioning matters depending on the hole location. That's more for a member than it is for a resort player, just because it takes time to develop that relationship with a golf course to really understand it. Hopefully our resort players want to come back and play it again and again, and then they start to learn the nuance. But in the beginning, it needs to be playable and fun and exciting. For much of my personal design work, I usually actually prefer a little bit smaller greens with interesting and diverse areas around them. That's the way I like golf. But at The Keep, we have bigger greens because a small green would look ridiculous. On a site that big, it just wouldn't fit right. Speaking of your greens, how would you describe them? The greens are probably the biggest mix between Rees and I. His biggest contribution would be on about half the greens, although I still supervised all of them. For the greens, we look for good diversity there. These are more gradually rolling. I will say this, I think right now we're in an architectural trend where some architects overcook greens. I really believe that, and we did not do that at The Keep. Instead, we have some sneaky, subtle stuff out there. Personally, as a former tour player, I just think we as architects as a whole are trying too hard sometimes to make things look good on photographs. And if it looks like there's a lot going on in a photograph, it's usually not very good in real life. It's always walking a line. People want greens to be interesting, but you don't want them to be unfair or just silly. And so our greens, they're very subtle. Was walking an integral part of The Keep from the beginning when you laid it out, because it is generally a pretty short walk from greens to the next tee. Yes, 100 percent. In fact, before we designed the golf course, before we even did grading plans, I did elevation analysis on every hole from every green to the next tee, and down to the landing area, and then to the green. And it's amazing how nicely it all came together. The biggest challenge we have is actually 16 to 17. But that's a downhill walk. If you're a back-tee player, 12 green up to 13 tee is a bit of a hike up the hill, but that's it really. I can't quote what the owners might have in mind, but I would like 75 percent of the people to play The Keep to walk and 25 percent to take carts next year or later this year when we have carts. Has your design philosophy changed any over the years? Ever since I started out, I have three pillars that every architect always has – I mean, I'm not alone on this. We want a great course mechanically, we want it to be interesting strategically, and we want it to be beautiful. So we design mechanically first, and that has always been where we go first. We are the superintendent's friend. I give the superintendent something good to work with, so he can produce golf that people will really enjoy. I would say in my early days, I was more into strategy and mechanics. And in my later days, I'm adding way more of the artistic elements into what I do. I think that my artistic ability has increased a lot. At The Keep, I didn't like leaving the golf course. I wanted to be the last person off the property every evening because it's just a place that speaks to me, and I love that. So I think the key is, it's the epitome of very interesting, memorable, strategic golf. And the beauty is undeniable, almost to a point of distraction. What has it been like to see that entire property evolve to today with two courses plus a hotel? It is truly beyond my imagination. And I give 100 percent credit to all of the team, but especially Duane Horton. He's a visionary. Two of the words that we use up there a lot are persistence and perseverance, because that property went through a lot of problems before we got to this point. And Duane's done it. They have exceeded my expectations by a lot. And I would say that experience is kind of a cool word, because going to McLemore in general is an experience, and I think it's a can't-miss experience. Not just The Keep, it's the Highlands too – they're completely different courses. And staying at that hotel and coming out and playing golf for several days is an incredible privilege. I can't wait for more people to experience what I've seen and just be on the ground in that part of the world. It's special.
Forbes
08-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Trump Organization Admits President Still Controls His Business In New Filing
Donald Trump, who has long tried to suggest he has little to do with the operations of his business empire, retains power over the trust that holds his assets, according to a filing his business submitted to British regulators last month. The document, titled 'notice of individual person with significant control,' identifies Donald John Trump, born in June 1946, as someone with influence over Golf Recreation Scotland Limited, the entity through which the president holds Trump Turnberry, a golf resort that hosted four British Opens before Trump purchased it in 2014. A more detailed section of the filing, labeled 'nature of control,' specifies that 'the person has the right to exercise, or actually exercises, significant influence or control over the activities of a trust.' The Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust holds Golf Recreation Scotland Limited and, via a web of additional entities, virtually every other asset in Donald Trump's empire. By stating that Trump has control over the trust, his business appears to admit that Trump maintains a grip on his entire empire. The 'nature of control' section goes on to describe the role of the trust's designated trustee or trustees, during Trump's first term his son Don Jr. and executive Allen Weisselberg (with Eric Trump serving as chairman of the advisory board of the trust). 'The trustees of that trust (in their capacity as such) have the right to exercise, or actually exercise, significant influence or control over the company,' the document says. Or, in plain English: Trump delegated authority while retaining ultimate power. Of course he did. In early 2017, after Trump promised he would not talk about his business with his heirs, first son Eric Trump told Forbes that the president would receive financial updates 'probably quarterly.' Around that time, ProPublica obtained a document suggesting that Trump could demand money from the trust at any point. The president spent much of his first term visiting his properties, decamping to Mar-a-Lago so often that he nicknamed it the 'winter White House.' His ambassador to the United Kingdom reportedly told people Trump asked him to look into whether the British government could help direct the British Open to Turnberry. The president also tried to steer the G7 meeting of global leaders to his golf resort in Miami. A document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in December 2024 said that Trump remains the sole beneficiary of his trust. Even in moments that the president has feigned separation from his business, he sometimes hints at the truth. For example, in 2017, Trump hosted a press conference to highlight his moves to hand things off to his heirs. At the conclusion of the event, however, he couldn't help but assert control: 'I hope at the end of eight years, I'll come back and say, 'Oh, you did a good job.' Otherwise, if they do a bad job, I'll say, 'You're fired.'' He also named an ethics lawyer during his first term, Bobby Burchfield, then replaced him with William Burck. In a social-media post last month, Trump suggested his business should ditch Burck. Eric Trump confirmed within hours that the Trump Organization was parting ways with the attorney. Nonetheless, efforts to portray the president as separate from his multibillion-dollar empire persist. Contacted last month about a story that measured the impact tariffs had on Trump's business, a spokesperson for the White House responded, 'The president's assets are in a trust managed by his children while he is working overtime to lead the country to economic prosperity.' White House representatives did not respond to inquiries about the new filing. A spokesperson for the Trump Organization did weigh in, however. 'This was a simple administrative update,' a spokesperson said. 'The structure of the business has not changed.' In other words, despite efforts to make it seem otherwise, the president has apparently been in control all along.
Chicago Tribune
06-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Donald Trump-owned golf course in Scotland to host August event on European tour
VIRGINIA WATER, England — A Scottish golf course owned by U.S. President Donald Trump will host a tournament on the European tour in August. Trump International Golf Links Scotland will stage the Scottish Championship from Aug. 7-10 after being added to the 2025 schedule by the tour on Tuesday. The course in Aberdeen is one of two owned by Trump in Scotland. The other is Trump Turnberry, which is one of 10 courses on the rotation to host the British Open — the oldest of the four major championships in men's golf — but hasn't staged that event since 2009. It will be the first time Trump International has staged an event on the European tour, though the course has been used for a tournament on the seniors' tour in 2023 and 2024 and will do so again this year, the week before the Scottish Championship. Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization, said hosting back-to-back events at Trump International marked a 'significant milestone.' The Scottish Championship was last played on the European tour in October 2020. Trump's courses also host events on the breakaway LIV Golf circuit. The R&A, which organizes British Opens, has pointed to logistical and infrastructure issues as the main factor behind Turnberry's failure to be awarded the major since 2009, when Stewart Cink beat 59-year-old Tom Watson in a playoff. In 2021, the R&A's then-CEO, Martin Slumbers, said the Open would not be returning to Turnberry 'until we are convinced that the focus will be on the championship, the players and the course itself and we do not believe that is achievable in the current circumstances' — perhaps a nod to Trump's ownership of the course. The R&A's stance appears to have softened, though, under recently hired CEO Mark Darbon, who said last month that his organization was 'doing some feasibility work' regarding a potential return to Turnberry. Trump International, in northern Scotland, has a panoramic view of offshore wind turbines not far from Aberdeen beach. The Scottish government's approval of the wind farm drew the ire of Trump because he regarded the turbines as 'unsightly' and spoiling the views at his luxury golf resort nearby.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump-owned golf course in Scotland to host event on European tour
VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) — A Scottish golf course owned by U.S. President Donald Trump will host a tournament on the European tour in August. Trump International Golf Links Scotland will stage the Scottish Championship from Aug. 7-10 after being added to the 2025 schedule by the tour on Tuesday. Advertisement The course in Aberdeen is one of two owned by Trump in Scotland. The other is Trump Turnberry, which is one of 10 courses on the rotation to host the British Open — the oldest of the four major championships in men's golf — but hasn't staged that event since 2009. It will be the first time Trump International has staged an event on the European tour, though the course has been used for a tournament on the seniors' tour in 2023 and 2024 and will do so again this year, the week before the Scottish Championship. Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization, said hosting back-to-back events at Trump International marked a 'significant milestone.' The Scottish Championship was last played on the European tour in October 2020. Advertisement Trump's courses also host events on the breakaway LIV Golf circuit. The R&A, which organizes British Opens, has pointed to logistical and infrastructure issues as the main factor behind Turnberry's failure to be awarded the major since 2009, when Stewart Cink beat 59-year-old Tom Watson in a playoff. In 2021, the R&A's then-CEO, Martin Slumbers, said the Open would not be returning to Turnberry 'until we are convinced that the focus will be on the championship, the players and the course itself and we do not believe that is achievable in the current circumstances' — perhaps a nod to Trump's ownership of the course. The R&A's stance appears to have softened, though, under recently hired CEO Mark Darbon, who said last month that his organization was 'doing some feasibility work' regarding a potential return to Turnberry. Advertisement Trump International, in northern Scotland, has a panoramic view of offshore wind turbines not far from Aberdeen beach. The Scottish government's approval of the wind farm drew the ire of Trump because he regarded the turbines as 'unsightly' and spoiling the views at his luxury golf resort nearby. ___ AP golf:
Associated Press
06-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Trump-owned golf course in Scotland to host event on European tour
VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) — A Scottish golf course owned by U.S. President Donald Trump will host a tournament on the European tour in August. Trump International Golf Links Scotland will stage the Scottish Championship from Aug. 7-10 after being added to the 2025 schedule by the tour on Tuesday. The course in Aberdeen is one of two owned by Trump in Scotland. The other is Trump Turnberry, which is one of 10 courses on the rotation to host the British Open — the oldest of the four major championships in men's golf — but hasn't staged that event since 2009. It will be the first time Trump International has staged an event on the European tour, though the course has been used for a tournament on the seniors' tour in 2023 and 2024 and will do so again this year, the week before the Scottish Championship. Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization, said hosting back-to-back events at Trump International marked a 'significant milestone.' The Scottish Championship was last played on the European tour in October 2020. Trump's courses also host events on the breakaway LIV Golf circuit. The R&A, which organizes British Opens, has pointed to logistical and infrastructure issues as the main factor behind Turnberry's failure to be awarded the major since 2009, when Stewart Cink beat 59-year-old Tom Watson in a playoff. In 2021, the R&A's then-CEO, Martin Slumbers, said the Open would not be returning to Turnberry 'until we are convinced that the focus will be on the championship, the players and the course itself and we do not believe that is achievable in the current circumstances' — perhaps a nod to Trump's ownership of the course. The R&A's stance appears to have softened, though, under recently hired CEO Mark Darbon, who said last month that his organization was 'doing some feasibility work' regarding a potential return to Turnberry. Trump International, in northern Scotland, has a panoramic view of offshore wind turbines not far from Aberdeen beach. The Scottish government's approval of the wind farm drew the ire of Trump because he regarded the turbines as 'unsightly' and spoiling the views at his luxury golf resort nearby. ___ AP golf:
