The 20 minutes I spent with Donald Trump on Tuesday afternoon made it clear that he will be a worldwide force in golf and his D.C.-area country club will be a thing of beauty. But before I get to that, the man who created the monster shows “The Apprentice” and “The Celebrity Apprentice” on NBC has a new show debuting on the Golf Channel.
“Donald J. Trump’s Fabulous World of Golf” premieres Monday at 9 p.m., and there is no doubt it will be a hit with golf fans. The show is based on the old “Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf” — an iconic sports TV series that aired in the 1960s and featured some of the top names in golf going head-to-head. The new version will have some golfers, but it also will include big-name sports stars and celebrities squaring off in a match-play format.
Trump also is in the midst of renovating the former Lowes Island Club in Potomac Falls, which he has renamed Trump National Golf Club. He now owns 11 of the top courses in the world, including ones in California and Florida, and he soon will finish one in Scotland that’s already generating plenty of buzz.
I spoke to Trump about his new show and the Trump National Golf Club.
JW » What has been the most interesting part about doing these shows?
Trump » Seeing the interaction and the competitive nature of the people playing these matches. The first match is between Lawrence Taylor and Jerry Rice. Taylor set the tone for the show when he said, “Jerry knows how to play, but I know how to win.” That was a killer statement. And then you watch what happens, and you go through the show, it is fun to see two great athletes playing head-to-head, playing to win and interacting in a way that is very entertaining. It makes for great TV and something I know viewers will enjoy.
JW » You will open Trump National Golf Club this summer. Will you talk to your good friend Tiger Woods about making it the lifetime home for his event?
Trump » Well, maybe, maybe. I like Congressional very much, but I have a thing called the Potomac River. When my place is completed, it’s going to be phenomenal. It’s being done now by a company that’s worked at Augusta, that’s worked at Pebble Beach, that’s really the highest level of golf. You know, we’re putting in all new tees and greens and this and that. We’re doing everything. It’s going to be essentially new. We’re lengthening it to 7,700 yards. It will be a world-class golf course with the Potomac River fronting on the entire stretch of the course, and that’s pretty tough to beat. Some people would say it’s a little arrogant, but who cares. I said our course is really superior to Congressional because Congressional is missing the Potomac River. It’s very tough to compete with a world-class golf course that fronts on the Potomac.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this!, on washingtonexaminer.com.
