Troon, described by company officials as a leader in providing golf and club-related leisure and hospitality services, and Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point in The Bronx, announced a new consulting agreement and sales and marketing partnership on Wednesday, Nov. 8. Bally’s officials said they selected Troon to provide support with operations, procurement, sales and marketing, retail merchandising, and agronomy.

Bally’s, described by company officials as one of the world’s leading entertainment companies, acquired the former Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point from The Trump Organization in September, as reported by Norwood News, taking over the lease on the property, which is owned by the City of New York, through 2035.

The acquisition of the golf links lease came as former U.S. President Donald J. Trump, the principal owner of The Trump Organization, continued to face various litigations in relation to his business activities, his actions pertaining to the insurrection on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the handling of classified documents recovered by the FBI at his home in Mar-a-Lago after leaving office, as well as other civil lawsuits regarding alleged defamatory comments made during a CNN townhall in May of this year about E. Jean Carroll.

As reported, City Council Member Marjorie Velázquez (C.D. 13), whose future as a councilmember hangs in the balance following Election Day unofficial results on Tuesday, Nov. 7, released a statement on Sept. 8 regarding the fate of the golf links, saying, “It’s time that we move forward and transform the Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point into something that offers the local community and The Bronx an opportunity to see real economic prosperity and inclusivity.”

Velázquez represents some or all of the Bronx neighborhoods of Allerton, City Island, Country Club, Edgewater Park, Ferry Point, Locust Point, Morris Park, Pelham Bay, Pelham Gardens, Pelham Parkway, Schuylerville, Silver Beach, Spencer Estates, Throggs Neck, Van Nest, Waterbury LaSalle, Westchester Square, and Zerega.

She added, “As we move toward a new future for Ferry Point, I look forward to starting a mutually beneficial relationship with Bally’s, a partnership that will support and uplift our Bronx communities and reflect the ideals of the borough,” she continued. “Working together, through Bally’s thoughtful stewardship, we can create a more inclusive project at Ferry Point and find a solution that is representative of who we are as a district and as a borough.”

The councilwoman concluded, “Any potential project that makes a home on this property should be renamed to something that honors the rich history and diversity of The Bronx and its spirit.”

The Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course is set at the foot of the Whitestone Bridge, where New York City’s East River meets the Long Island Sound, with stunning views of the New York City skyline. Open since 2015, Bally’s officials said the Golf Links at Ferry Point is recognized as one of the top public courses in New York State.

As part of the latest announced relationship, officials said the golf links will receive a full suite of Troon sales, marketing and public relations services, will appear on Troon.com, the Troon App, and will be included in stay & play packages. Bally’s officials said Troon will also identify advertising and marketing opportunities through the Troon Media Network, targeting golfers in the Troon database, subscribers to Troon Magazine as well as Troon’s digital and email marketing platforms.

“We have a Jack Nicklaus Signature layout featuring magnificent Manhattan skyline views,” said Brian Crowell, general manager of the Ferry Point golf links operation. “With undulating fairways, dramatic dunes and fescue, Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point provides a taste of Scotland in The Bronx. This isn’t just the best public-access course in New York City; it’s rated as one of the best municipal golf courses in the country!  We’re proud to partner with Troon to offer our guests a golf experience unlike any other.”

Bally’s officials said the 20,000 square-foot clubhouse is home to The Waterfront NYC, an upscale casual, new American restaurant with a focus on seafood and steak, a well-appointed golf shop, and multiple event spaces perfect for weddings or any special occasion.

Reacting to the announcement, Archie Cart, Troon vice president of operations, said, “Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point is an amazing golf course on a one-of-a-kind piece of land. We are excited to work with Bally’s and the management team at the club to help fulfill their vision for this property,”

According to financial results released at the end of the second quarter of 2023, released on Aug. 3 by Bally’s Corporation, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under BALY, highlights included overall revenue of $606.2 million, an increase of 9.7% year-over-year, record Casinos & Resorts revenue of $333.2 million, up 11.1% year-over-year.

Read our previous story on the legal dispute between the Trump Organization and the City of New York over the Ferry Point Golf Links here, as well as Bronxites’ reactions to the hosting of a prior Saudi-sponsored women’s golf tournament at the Ferry Point golf links here.

The former president, who took the witness stand in Manhattan’s New York Supreme Court on Monday, Nov. 6, as part of a civil case brought against him by New York Attorney General Letitia James regarding questions over the value of his businesses, and whose daughter, Ivanka Trump, testified in the same case on Wednesday, Nov. 8, following previous testimonies by her brothers in the case, is continuing with his bid to win the Republican nomination for president in the 2024 presidential election. Trump denies any wrongdoing.

A person charged with a crime is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.