Trump's Scottish Golf Triumph: A Hat-Trick of World's Best Awards
Aberdeenshire's Trump International Golf Links has achieved an extraordinary feat, securing a prestigious hat-trick of victories at the annual World Golf Awards. The Balmedie resort, which first opened its doors in 2012, was honoured with three top accolades: World's Best Golf Course 2025, World's Best Contribution to Golf Tourism Hospitality, and World's Best New Golf Course 2025.
Spectacular Course Earns Global Recognition
This remarkable achievement comes merely months after the resort's New Course was unveiled in July, situated alongside the site's original championship greens. The tees, renowned for their breathtaking panoramic views of the North Sea and the area's iconic rolling sand dunes, have consistently drawn international acclaim.
This isn't the first time the resort has been recognised for its excellence. As part of Trump Scotland, it previously topped Golfweek's Top 50 Modern Courses in Great Britain and Ireland in 2021 and claimed the title of Scotland's Best Golf Course at that year's World Golf Awards. These prestigious annual honours are determined by votes from golf professionals, media representatives, and enthusiasts worldwide.
Vision and Investment Celebrated
Following the hat-trick of trophies, President Donald Trump expressed his pride, stating it was a "great honor to win such a prestigious award from the highly respected World Golf Awards." He specifically praised his son, Eric Trump, and the team for "building one of the greatest golf courses anywhere in the world," adding that "It will make people happy for a long time to come."
Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of the Trump Organisation which oversees Trump Scotland, attended the New Course's ribbon-cutting ceremony in July alongside his father. He described the property as a "labour of love" from the outset. "We have built the greatest 36 holes along the spectacular North Sea shoreline," he said, "and are immensely grateful to World Golf Awards and all those who have supported us."
Sarah Malone, Executive Vice President of Trump International Scotland, highlighted the resort's core philosophy. "Our entire ethos is the unrelenting pursuit of excellence," she commented, "to build, maintain and operate truly awe-inspiring golf courses that will be enjoyed by many generations of golfers to come. To be named the World's Best is the ultimate honour."
A Scottish Legacy and Future Plans
Trump International in Balmedie is one of two Scottish resorts owned by Mr Trump, the other being Turnberry in Ayrshire. The President has deep familial roots in Scotland; his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was from the village of Tong on the Isle of Lewis before emigrating to the United States in 1930.
Looking to the future, plans were announced earlier this year for a memorial garden dedicated to the President's mother, a mother-of-five, at the Balmedie resort, further cementing the Trump family's connection to the Scottish landscape.
