Donald Trump promises 'world-class' Crandon Park golf course

Trump seeks to manage, operate course in exchange for $10 million renovation

DORAL, Fla. – For the first time since submitting a plan to take over Miami-Dade County's premiere public golf course, Donald Trump talked about the proposal to Local 10 News, and he didn't hold back.

"It's in terrible shape, terrible condition," Trump said. "(It's) pretty bad. If you look at it and if you look at (Trump National) Doral, it's a joke. From an aesthetic standpoint, it could be one of the great courses of the world."

Trump has submitted an unsolicited proposal to add Crandon Park to his national portfolio of golf courses by investing $10 million to renovate the course in return for a 99-year lease to manage and operate it.

"If I do it, it will be world-class," Trump said. "If I don't do it, it's going to continue the way it is, which is not very good."

Just last month, Golf Digest rated Crandon Park No. 15 on its list of Florida's top public golf courses, which is only seven spots behind Trump National Doral and less than a point difference. A similar listing in the South Florida Business Journal last year listed Crandon at No. 3. The rest of the top five were Trump courses.

Currently, Miami-Dade County rules and Crandon Park's trust forbid any private enterprise at the park. But, because of Trump, the first hearing on whether to change that is scheduled next month.

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About the Author:

Glenna Milberg joined Local 10 News in September 1999 to report on South Florida's top stories and community issues. She also serves as co-host on Local 10's public affairs broadcast, "This Week in South Florida."