Eric Trump on the new Doonbeg: "We can’t wait to add the Trump touch"

 Donald Trump and course designer Gil Hanse at last year's Blue Monster redesign announcement at Doral. Photo Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie

Now that Donald Trump has bought Doonbeg the question remains: What will the future hold? And will Doonbeg designer Greg Norman get the inevitable redesign gig?

According to our sources, the Shark has so far heard nothing from Trump about a possible revamp of the storm damaged links in Co Clare, now rebranded "Trump International Golf Links, Ireland."

Even without the damage, it's hard to imagine that Trump would leave the course untouched or miss the chance to use an asset of Norman's stature to give the project even more publicity.

After all, he is investing $200 million in the Doral Resort in Miami and the first reviews of the course enhancements carried out  to the famous Blue Monster by Gil Hanse, the designer of the Olympic golf course in Rio de Janeiro, have been very positive.

Trump prides himself on improving the properties he buys and his son third eldest son Eric —Executive Vice-President of Development and Acquisitions — left the Clare People in no doubt about the Trump Organisation's intentions when he gave the local paper an exclusive interview on Tuesday. 

Emmet Moloney reported:

“We’re really excited about Doonbeg and can’t wait to add the Trump touch to what is already a true diamond of a world class hotel and golf course,” he told Editor of The Clare People Emmet Moloney on Tuesday....

“It will mean jobs and investment for Doonbeg. This is our 16th hotel and golf club and when The Trump Organization get involved in a project like this, our aim is to make it the best in the world. That’s what we will be doing in Doonbeg and we will have fun doing it too.

“We’re thrilled to have bought Doonbeg and we aim to invest a lot of money, adding the Trump touch with renovation and building. We buy assets and always make them better. That’s will be our plan for Doonbeg, which is already world class,” Eric said.

Fourteen handicapper Eric describes his father as "a scratch golfer" and a visit from The Donald himself can surely not be far away. 

Whether he will be with Greg Norman remains to be seen.