Virginia Golfer May / Jun 2017 | Page 23

Signature HOLES Trump National Golf Club has a wide variety of holes, from five par-4s that extend 440 yards or longer to a drivable par-4. There are also par-3s ranging from 160 to 249 yards. The venue requires a player’s attention to a number of different approaches, risk/reward holes, strategic bunkering, and demanding greens. But there are a few notable holes: NO. 13 Par: 5 Length: 544 yards Features: Three bunkers left, right and center in the fairway, leading to an elevated green measuring 10,000 square feet, the largest on the course. NO. 15 Rocco Mediate hoisted one of the more impressive trophies in golf—the Alfred S. Bourne trophy—after last year’s Senior PGA Championship. Is a repeat in the cards? All 18 greens were completely rebuilt and reseeded with Bentgrass, adding undulation to silky smooth putting surfaces that average 6,500 square feet. The rebuilt greens now feature target areas in quadrants that demand precision shot- making. Finally, bunkers were renovated and additional tees were added to maximize the length. BREAKING GROUND This will be the first Trump course to hold any sort of major championship, though more are on the way, including the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2022 PGA Championship, both scheduled for Trump’s property in Bedminster, N.J. Mediate won the PGA Senior, first major title of his career, last year at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, Mich. Just the way he’s vsga.org coming into Trump National this year, he had never played that course until he showed up for practice rounds during tour- nament week, and his expectations when he arrived were not all that great. But after receiving a posture tip from a friend and a put