Trump THINK BIG Expo

“When I was 21 it was a very good year,” sang Sinatra over the pouring and crashing sound of water cascading down the brown rock-sided wall behind the blue Manhattan Golf Classic banner. About 15 minutes later, Donald Trump’s cheek reflected short flashes of light, shot from the camera firing squad behind me, as he shook hands with Steve Feuerstein, The Arena Corp.’s President, Ken Podziba, the New York City Sports Commissioner, Hank Haney, Dean of ESPN Golf Schools and Tiger Woods’ Coach, and Tony Bair, Publisher of Golf Digest.

“It was important after 400 years to bring professional golf to New York,” announced Feuerstein today at a press conference for the Manhattan Golf Classic that will be held on Governor’s Island on October 22, 2006.

Donald Trump will team up with golf’s legendary Tom Watson in a battle of the sexes skins game vs. Annika Sorenstam, Golf Digest’s number 1 female golfer, and Natalie Gulbis, golf’s new poster girl.

“I will see you on Sunday where I will make a jerk out of myself,” said Trump, forecasting his performance. “I’ll play Tom’s Ball as much as possible.”

Haney, who will be holding a VIP corporate golf clinic, advised Trump to take his time. “Help out,” continued Haney. “You might make an important hole.”

Each team will compete in a 18-hole contest that has to conclude at 3:45 pm, so Trump can fly to Chicago where he will speak to 61,000 attendees of the Learning Annex Real Estate Wealth Expo. If the game continues passed 3:45 pm, Feuerstein joked that Imperial Jets, the official private jet charter of the Manhattan Golf Classic, will fly the 61,000 attendees to Governor’s Island to hear Trump speak.

I doubt the $2 M in advertising invested in the Manhattan Golf Classic would be enough to cover the private jet charter for 61,000 from Chicago to New York.