Trump National Doral (Blue Monster)

Dick Wilson, a former construction superintendent at Shinnecock Hills, was the man who designed the Blue course at Doral and it has been upgraded over the years by a number of golfing greats such as Robert von Hagge, Bruce Devlin, Raymond Floyd and the renowned instructor, Jim McLean.

On its USPGA Tour debut in 1962, the severity of the challenge it presented attracted it the name of “Blue Monster” and that moniker has stuck down the years. One of the most respected courses on the professional circuit, the Blue is long, tough and heavily-bunkered, with water visible or in play on every hole.

If ever one hole encapsulated the spirit of a course then it’s the 18th on the Blue. Often played into a wind, there is water all the way down the left hand side from tee to green, with a beach bunker and palm trees more recent additions on that side of the fairway.

Seven bunkers line the other side, set beside deep rough and more palm trees so shying too far away from the lake brings these hazards into play. The long, narrow green angles to the left, sloping away from the clubhouse towards the water – a par finish here will be one of the best fours you will ever mark on a scorecard.

In 2012, Donald Trump successfully bought Doral for $150 million after the facility fell into bankruptcy. Trump then proceeded to invest a further $200 million to renovate the property. Gil Hanse was drafted in to remodel the legendary Blue Monster course and the Trump family officially reopened it in February 2014.

Naturally the new 7,608-yard Blue Monster, now equipped with enlarged lakes, new bunkers, tees and greens is “bigger and better than ever before”. According to Donald Trump, “Trump National Doral will soon become, upon completion of the Red Tiger and Golden Palm golf courses, the greatest golf resort in the United States, with the brand new and truly amazing Blue Monster – there will be nothing like it,”

Architect, Gil Hanse stated: “This is one of the most exciting projects that I have ever had the privilege to work on. The property itself, being all sand based, is very unusual and unique – and a tremendous asset for a golf course. On top of it all, its location, in the middle of Miami, is unprecedented.”

All eyes were focused on the “bigger and better” Blue Monster in March 2014 when Tiger Woods defended the World Golf Championships title. Only three players bettered the Monster’s par and it was Patrick Reed who came out on top, beating Jamie Donaldson and Bubba Watson by a single shot. With only a four Tour outings under his belt since his six-month “leave of absence”, Dustin Johnson returned to centre stage, winning the 2015 WGC - Cadillac Championship title by one shot from compatriot JB Holmes. Adam Scott won the 2016 event in Florida before the tournament was re-branded and relocated to Chapultepec in Mexico City in 2017.