Hilary Rhoda
Donald Trump
made a $1 million hole-in-one at his new golf resort on Scotland’s famous dunes in Aberdeenshire.
At last weekend’s opening, more than 8,000 players, hailing from some 20 nations, vied for tee times, the Trump Organization revealed to The Post.
Resort director Sarah Malone called the flood of golfers eager to tee off on the virgin links at Trump International Golf Links a “phenomenal start” that’s unmatched for such openings. The take in the first week alone exceeded $1.2 million, and the resort is booked solid for the next eight weeks, she said. Trump and his daughter Ivanka were among the first to play the 18-hole course.
The tycoon originally triggered a local firestorm seven years ago for his $250 million plan to transform 1,236 coastal acres near the protected Balmedie Sands into a championship golf resort. –Paul Tharp
Nobu man no cry
Nobu’s Hamptons pop-up is in full swing. On a bustling Friday night, diners were shouting across their $43 Montauk lobster salads to be heard above the din.
The place is jam-packed, with finance guys on the sidelines working it and “tons of deals” going on, says Richie Notar, the managing partner at Nobu for 19 years.
Notar is said to be looking for a second act and is reportedly partnering with Jim Pallotta — who is co-owner of the Boston Celtics of the NBA — to form Notar Hospitality in order “to do things that don’t involve chopsticks and soy sauce,” Notar told the Wall Street Journal.
Notar tells On the Money there is an “unspoken membership” at the Hamptons outpost, where the restaurant is next to The Bathing Club at Capri in Southampton, and guests can nibble sushi and $18 cocktails poolside.
“You’ve got a guy worth $8 billion at one table spending time with surfer kids, pop stars and models. That’s what makes it interesting.”
Nobu has become an iconic brand, and a power spot, he said. There are 25 Nobus around the world, but Notar declined to speak about revenues.
“I’ve been battling that stigma by trying to make Nobu more user- friendly. More like Armani, which has three levels — Black Level, Emporio and AX Armani Exchange — so I’m catering to everyone.”
Notar is testing the waters with the restaurant and private catering in the Hamptons, but he does not plan on keeping Nobu open there year-round.
“If the world is crumbling financially, and you tell your friends you just had dinner at Nobu, they say, ‘That’s an expensive restaurant!’ People are coming here because they want to tell people I’m still good. It gives them bragging rights.”
Among the crowd out east were model Hilary Rhoda, Courtney Love, Alex Rodriguez, Robert De Niro, and Ian Schrager.–Julie Earle-Levine
Flash!
Quartz, a new business website being led by Editor-in-Chief Kevin Delaney and owned by the parent of Atlantic Monthly, has come up with a quirky gimmick for its office in Washington, DC.
The soon-to-be-launched site has a light bulb suspended in the newsroom that will blink every time it gets a mention on Twitter.
Well, here’s hoping On the Money readers can make @quartznews on Twitter turn the newsroom into a disco with a strobe light. –Post staff
Serenity now!
A citrus-note essential oils spray to get rid of bad energy is the sweet smell of success for New York entrepreneur Adora Winquist, who created the spray when working in customer service for a cable company.
“When customers came in and their televisions didn’t work, they’d really melt down and start yelling. That volcanic anger was tangible,” says Winquist.
But in corporate America you can’t really burn sage, incense or candles. Winquist created a scent as a defense to aggravation and called it “Clear Away.”
Celebrities including Katie Perry, Jennifer Lopez and LeeAnn Rimes are also devotees. “I was thinking Katie Holmes could really use it,” Winquist said.
Winquist’s company, Opus Gaia, is starting to sell her products to Whole Foods markets throughout the Northeast; New York is her strongest market.
A 4-oz. bottle is $15, while a 7-ml. travel size suitable for briefcases and purses is $4.99.–Julie Earle-Levine