HIGH-PROFILE AMERICAN tycoon Donald Trump began a three-day visit to Co Clare this morning by suggesting his Doonbeg golf course will host the Irish Open.
The Trump Organisation purchased the luxury hotel and the links track for €15million recently. He’s vowed to bring ‘lots of jobs’ to the region with the course playing a central role in redevelopment plan.
“We will have tournaments, we will have some tremendous tournaments, we’ve already been contacted by the folks you just mentioned — the Irish Open — and we will be hosting many things which will bring people to the area and create a lot of jobs,” he said at Shannon Airport today.
The US Apprentice star said he’s already been in contact with European Tour bosses with a view to having the Irish Open in Clare. ”Yes that’s true. They’ve already called,” he told reporters. ”They love it. The piece of land is so incredible. That’s why I bought it.”
The course was badly damaged in recent months by storms but Trumps said repair work will be completed ‘over the next two or three months’.