Donald Trump’s Controversial Golf and Timeshare Resort in Aberdeen, Scotland

Donald Trump’s planned golf courses and timeshare resort have attracted attention from environmentalists and economists alike.

When Donald Trump announced plans to build Trump International Golf Links in Scotland, the Scots were supportive of the idea—at least in theory. In Scotland, the birthplace of golf, people are always up for another great golf course, and with Trump’s reputation for building championship facilities, enthusiasm for the project was high. That is, until some area residents and environmentalists found out just how big Trump’s plans are.

Trump, whose heritage is half Scots, describes his mother as, “seriously Scotch.” Trump’s vision for the proposed, Trump International Golf Links in Scotland, can only be described as, “seriously Trump-like.” Project designs for the approximate-1000 acres, call for two championship golf courses to be co-designed by Donald J. Trump Signature Designs and golf course architect, Tom Fazio II. Additionally, the resort would have a clubhouse, a 450-room luxury hotel, between 500 and 1000 timeshare villas or vacation residences, a golf academy, and a turf grass research center. Work was scheduled to begin on the golf resort and timeshare villas project in September 2006, with a target opening date planned for early 2008. Reports indicate that the project is now at least one year behind schedule.

As with any situation, there are two sides to it. Here’s a look at some of the key issues of the proposed development:

• AGAINST: An article by Craig Better of GolfVacationInsider.com says, “Trump’s plans call for stabilizing a network of sand dunes so they don’t encroach on his golf courses.” The sand dunes in question are part of a chain of dunes that runs along the North Sea; it is the largest dune system in Scotland. According to Scotland’s Daily Record, “Scottish Natural Heritage said it (the planned development) would ‘seriously damage’ an important nature conservation area. They also warned (that) the proposal would destroy a third of a crucial site of special scientific interest just north of Aberdeen.”
• AGAINST: Scottish Natural Heritage warns that the golf course and timeshare resort construction plans could wipe out crucial habitats because of the loss of rare plants.
• FOR: Scottish Natural Heritage says they are not opposed to the construction of one championship golf course; their objections are to the scope of the project.
• FOR: The Trump Organization was quoted by TheScottish-Enterprise as saying, “Our goal is to create the greatest links golf courses in Scotland as part of a golf development that will become the finest in Europe, if not the world.”
• FOR: The geographical location of Trump International Golf Links would position it so that golf enthusiasts could plan a holiday at the resort with side trips to other renowned courses including Cruden Bay, Murcar, and Royal Aberdeen. Trump International Golf Links could even be home base for golfing excursions that include the legendary courses of St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Prestwick, Turnberry, Royal Troon, Nairn, and Royal Dornoch.
• FOR: BBC News says the project could, “…generate tens of millions of pounds for the local economy and secure hundreds of jobs.” In the same report, BBC News went on to say that the project could, “create 6,000 jobs”.

Because this topic is so very complex, I am going to continue with more on the issues in tomorrow’s blog, looking at still other aspects of the “pros” and “cons” of building the Trump International Golf Links, timeshare resort and hotel in Aberdeen, Scotland.