Maintaining world-class playing conditions on a rugged coastal Links course is no easy task.
At Trump International, Scotland, Course Manager Eddie Irvine and his team face the relentless challenge of keeping their renowned course pristine year-round, all while preparing for the grand opening of the New Course in the Summer of 2025.
The new New Course joins the existing 18-hole Old Course, which stretches along the dramatic Aberdeenshire coastline. With breathtaking views of the North Sea on nearly every hole, the course demands playing surfaces that match its striking scenery.
For over 12 years, Head Greenkeeper of the Old Course Eddie Irvine and his team of 14 have been committed to delivering exceptional Links conditions while preserving the course's natural beauty.
Achieving the perfect balance of firmness, speed, and healthy colour is a constant challenge in Links golf. Eddie first explored Consolidate products through the Scottish distributor GroGreen Ltd, working closely with Kenny Liddell to trial Consolidate Links to see how well the product could penetrate the plant during cooler temperatures, which is a vital factor in Scotland's climate.
"The initial trial was a success," Eddie explains. "We saw immediate improvements in colour and turf health using Consolidate Links, and from there, we expanded to using Consolidate Plus+ and Fairway. We've now integrated them into our annual agronomy programme across the entire Old Course and our grow-in plan for the New Course.
"Getting that colour and the surfaces to still be firm and fast is a great achievement. We were looking for the colour to be right. Obviously, we're a Links course, but we still want to maintain the healthy colour on the surfaces, and that's why we spoke with Kenny and trialled Consolidate.
"Our overall experience with GroGreen and Consolidate made using their products on the New Course an easy decision. Construction of the new course started in May last year, and we've been using Consolidate products on it since the end of 2024."
At Trump International, Scotland, the entire course needs to be immaculate all year round, including the walkways. For Eddie, one of the key strengths of working with Consolidate products is the ability to have custom mixes.
To keep their extensive network of ultra-fine rye walkways pristine all year round, Consolidate formulated a bespoke mixture which could help elevate quality despite the harsh conditions and high foot traffic.
"The guys from Consolidate came up with a bespoke mix for our walkways to help us maintain them to the highest standards and keep their colour and the plant growth," Eddie explains.
"We are impressed with how it's worked and the speed at which they can provide us with the product. Generally, we're able to receive new products within a couple of days, and that's really important for us."
Head Greenkeeper for the New Course Luke Ebersold and his team plan to continue to use Consolidate's range of products to uphold their high standards and work to provide what Trump International, Scotland, claims will be 'the greatest 36 holes in golf'.
