USA Today
Wednesday, March 1, 2000

"Interview with Donald Trump"

Courses latest address for tycoon Trump

With Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., in full swing and four other courses in the works in Westchester County, N.Y., Donald Trump intends to leave his imprint on golf the same way he has changed Manhattan's skyline. "The Donald" doesn't have much time to practice, and when he plays, he makes sure no foursomes are ahead of him. Ann Liguori recently played a brisk 18 holes with Trump.

Q: So you are now full scale into the golf business?
A: It's not a huge business. But I find shaping earth to be a very beautiful thing. If you saw this land before, it was literally the level of that lake. There were no lakes, and now we have 58 acres of lakes.

Q: Could you compare the feeling when this course opened to the feeling of anything else you've done in your career?
A: It's like opening Trump Tower. That was a huge success from the day I built it. The feeling is very similar. But I will say, I've never had the positive word of mouth that I've had on this. People come here and they just go crazy over it.

Q: What's your best score here?
A: My best score from the blues was 3 over par. It was a great day, no wind. But I've had some terrible scores here, too.

Q: Why are you so passionate about golf?
A: I think I'm passionate about life. I'm passionate about everything I do. I like golf because it gets your mind off everything. You just think about hitting that stupid white ball. You're really focused on it. You get off the golf course after three or four hours and your mind is very fresh. It's just a great, psychological exercise.

Q: How do you handle the frustration out there on the course, because you are used to having control in the business world but in golf you have to let go of that control.
A: I tell myself that it just doesn't matter. That's the expression I use. You'll see someone playing terrible golf and you'll almost feel sorry for the poor guy or woman and two days later, you don't even remember they had a bad round. It just really doesn't matter unless you're a professional. You have to go out there and have fun and not take it too seriously.

Q: That's a great attitude.
A: Well, I think it's almost a necessity; otherwise, you can't enjoy it. I mean, you'll hit some good shots, you'll hit some bad shots, no matter how good you are. It makes no difference if you're Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods or Gary Player, or just an average golfer, you're going to hit good shots and bad shots. I get a kick out of watching the great players where when they miss a shot, they're stone-faced. They just handle it so well. They understand they're going to miss shots.

Q: Last question, Donald. Does your girlfriend play?
A: Which girlfriend? (He laughs.)

Trump has firm grip, in hurry to take rip

Former PGA Tour member Bruce Zabriski is the director of golf at Trump International. Bob Joyce, the director of instruction at Trump International, taught Zabriski the game 30 years ago. Ann Liguori talked with Zabriski.

Q: What's it like working for Donald Trump?
A: Donald is very hands on, very involved. Every weekend he's here, he's making changes, fine-tuning it. And that will go on, through the summer and next year, until he gets it the way he wants it. It's great to be around a positive guy who is always trying to make it better and who never says "no" to me. He ways, "OK, let's give it a shot."

Q: How demanding and intimidating is he to work for?
A: At first, he was most intimidating because he is Donald Trump. He's fast-moving, fast-acting. It took a little while before he acquired confidence in me where he would ask a question and listen to me. But I built up my credibility, and we have a great working relationship with him now. I look at Donald Trump as my friend and my boss. He's doing a great thing here at the club and for golf.

Q: Talk about Donald's game. What are his strengths and weaknesses?
A: Donald Trump is fun to play with. You have to play fast with him. He likes to go. He likes to do everything fast. He's got a wonderful grip, and I think Claude Harmon at Winged Foot taught him his grip. He's a busy man who never practices, and he can still come out and hit good shots and play good golf because of how good his grip is. Bob Joyce and I have been trying to get him to lengthen his swing, get more turn in the length of his swing. But he says: "I'm just so impatient. I've got to hit that ball."