NYC Cites Lack Of Major Events Lured To Ferry Point In Terminating Management Deal

While other contracts with the Trump Organization were cancelled over the Capitol insurrection, New York City’s announcement related to Trump Golf Links Ferry Point specifically cited a contractual issue. Namely, the failure to lure major events (it’s not clear if that means majors or just significant tournaments).

The PGA recently cancelled the 2022 PGA Championship at a Trump golf course.  In its contract with the Trump Organization to run Ferry Point Golf Course, the City called for a championship level golf course that would attract major championship events.

 The termination process for each location is detailed in each of the City agreements. The Carousel is currently closed and termination will be effective 25 days after the City’s termination notice is delivered. The Agreement for the Wollman and Lasker Rinks terminates after 30 days written notice. The process for terminating the Ferry Point Golf Course is more detailed and is expected to take a number of months.

According to GolfDigest.com’s Joel Beall, the Trump Organization will be fighting back and asking for lost revenues.

Eric Trump, son of President Trump and executive vice president of the Trump Organization, challenged the city’s decision in a statement to New York media outlets.

"Yet another example of Mayor de Blasio’s blatant disregard for the facts. The City of New York has no legal right to end our contracts and if they elect to proceed, they will owe The Trump Organization over $30 million," the statement said. "This is nothing more than political discrimination, an attempt to infringe on the first amendment and we plan to fight vigorously."

According to the Washington Post’s David Fahrenthold and Jonathan O’Connell, the course lost money again last year in Trump filings.

The course opened in 2015, but has failed to meet the Trump Organization’s profit projections: In the year ended in March 2020, the course lost more than $670,000, according to filings with the city.

In the most recent state rankings from Golf Digest and Golf, Trump Ferry Point did not crack the top 25 and top 30 in either listing. Granted, it’s the toughest neighborhood in America for great architecture, but given the interest in hosting major events and the dramatic site, it’s clear the course has not been a hit with panelists.

The course website remains up as of now, with quite the video montage of the clubhouse opening ceremony featuring Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Jack Nicklaus.