Trump plans to redesign Doonbeg

Donald Trump is considering a complete rebuild of the link golf course at Doonbeg that could bring him into conflict with environmentalists over protected dunes and the microscopic snail that limited the original Greg Norman project.

The self-confessed billionaire confirmed ahead of the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral in Miami that British designer Martin Hawtree will either enhance the existing course or completely redesign a new links if plans to rebuild what is now called Trump International Golf Links, Ireland prove feasible and get the green light.

“There are tremendous dunes there and they weren’t able to use them, which is sad,” Trump said of the original course design, which was unable to use 51 acres of grey dunes that were designation as a Special Area of Conservation by the now defunct agency Dúchas. “It’s very sad for tourism.”