Despite Greg Norman and Phil Mickelson’s Involvement, Billionaire and Former POTUS’ Failed Venture Leaves Many in Ruins

Donald Trump-owned Nirwana Bali Golf Course was once considered among the top 100 golf courses in the world. In 2016, it became the pride of Indonesia after the World Golf Awards picked it as the best golf course in the country. However, the place where one of the most beautiful destinations in the world once lay has nothing but weeds now. Even professional golfer and course designer, Phil Mickelson, couldn’t reinstate it. 

The beautiful and award-winning golf course is part of an Indonesian resort owned by MNC Land and the Trump Organization. The former US President had plans to make it a 6-star destination when he signed a deal in 2013. 

Despite having $2 billion net worth, Donald Trump has many failed projects, including casinos and hotels. And the beautiful Bali-based golf course also ended up becoming one of them. 

Phil Mickelson and his design company failed to relaunch the Nirwana course

The Australian golfer-turned-entrepreneur, Greg Norman, designed the beautiful Nirwana course, situated on approximately 60 hectares along the Indian Ocean, in 1997. It was already beautiful and considered one of the best courses in the world. However, the American billionaire and his partners wanted to renovate it. 

It was all part of Trump’s big plans. And Mickelson was chosen as the new designer of the project in 2017. The idea behind the project was for the course “to be elevated to the next level, whilst preserving the existing rice terraces and historic temples that are located throughout the property.” 

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Donald Trump Jr called it the ‘dream project’ when he visited Jakarta in 2019. However, no re-designing works had ever been done at the Nirwana Golf Course other than ruining a beautiful golf course. 

Hundreds of employees lost their jobs due to Trump’s dream project

The management compensated the permanent staff of the hotel after they lost their jobs. However, the caddies, who were on temporary contracts, didn’t receive a penny. 

“It was hard. The time I lost my job as a caddy was difficult,” one of the temporary caddies of the Nirwana course said. “I got stressed thinking about how I would earn money because I have children,” she further added. “I was 48 years old, how could I get another job?”

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For the former POTUS, it was just another failed project among many others. However, such was not the case with the resort and golf course staff who worked there.