New Trump golf course provokes fury in Scotland

[Eugene]

Source: The Observer

New Trump golf course provokes fury in Scotland

Environmentalists dismayed by go-ahead for new course in Aberdeenshire are likely to give the president a hostile welcome if he visits

Robin McKie Science editor
Sat 17 Oct 2020 20.00 BST

Donald Trump has said he might leave the US if he loses the White House to Joe Biden next month. If so, he has just been handed the perfect place to eke out his final days – by playing golf on a new course in Aberdeenshire, his second in the area.

If Trump does choose such an option, he can expect a robust welcome from conservationists, however. They say last week’s decision by Aberdeenshire council planners to approve the course could have a catastrophic impact on the area’s delicate environment.

Trump International Golf Links Scotland built a course on the Menie estate, north of Aberdeen, in 2012, and its construction has been blamed for badly damaging the spectacular dunes system at nearby Foveran Links, an official site of special scientific interest (SSSI).

As a result, conservation experts had urged Aberdeenshire council to withhold planning permission for the second golf course at Menie that Trump had asked to build. But in September last year, local councillors ignored their warnings and recommended the proposal be given the go-ahead.

Since then, campaigners had pressed Aberdeenshire council planning service to overturn that decision but on Friday it announced it had decided to go ahead and grant full planning permission for the new course. It claimed the new course “will contribute towards the significant social and economic benefits expected to be delivered by the wider development proposals within the Menie estate”.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/17/new-trump-golf-course-provokes-fury-in-scotland

[underpants]

1. Who in God's name is investing in golf right now?

The whole industry is teetering and has been well before the pandemic. Yeah I know, the markets he’s going after has plenty of money.

[BigmanPigman]

3. I thought the same thing but for a different reason...

I wanted to know how tRump and companie can afford to do it since he was and is in debt. But the article says it was built in 2012, so the "new" course is 8 years old. I am sure it is losing big bucks due to travel and Covid, like the rest of his "thriving properties".

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. It's a second course, next to the existing one

On land I think the company already owned, but still new development.

[BigmanPigman]

5. That doesn't seem like a very smart financial move.

All his resorts are losing money so why go through with a new one. I can see why he is considered a bad businessman.

[Denzil_DC]

6. The original plan Trump submitted was phased.

Last edited Sun Oct 18, 2020, 04:13 PM - Edit history (1)

The second course was slated from the start, but it's taken a long time for Trumpco to decide to press on. While the first course was being built and Trumpco decided to bully the neighbours at Menie, Trump was crying poverty because of the economic downturn, and used that to explain the delays and incomplete facilities at Menie.

There were also plans for extensive housing development, without which a friend of mine high up in planning in the area says the whole scheme wouldn't be financially viable, and shops etc. Many promises were made about jobs etc. which have not been fulfilled.

Trumpco has tentacles through the media and council in the area, which explains some of the laissez-faire attitude locally.

The existing course at Menie has never turned a profit, and Trump Turnberry in Ayrshire was also suffering even before COVID. Golfer friends of mine have sworn never to golf at a Trump course. I think the grand vision was that the courses would draw wealthy golfers from the US etc., which hasn't happened on any significant scale. Turnberry would have been in the running to host the Open, but this became politically impossible after Trump's various racist outbursts. Trumpco also wants an extensive housing development at Turnberry, but that seems a non-starter at the moment.

There have been noises about raising an Unexplained Wealth Order to try to untangle what's been happening financially. The suspicion is that money laundering may be involved.

[T_i_B]

7. Are the Golfers boycotting President Fart's courses for golfing reasons?

Or because of his shite politics?

If it's because of issues with the courses and facilities, or overcharging then I would say that's a bigger issue.

[Denzil_DC]

8. Mainly because - unbidden by me - they think Trump's an absolute arsehole.

But Scotland's spoilt for courses, both town and upmarket. There's nothing really there as a special draw for them when they already live in Scotland. They just want to go off in a group, maybe for a weekend or more if further afield, play a few rounds and have a good time. They can do that many places without being confronted with Trumpville.

And I do think his courses and associated facilities overcharge for what they offer. That was all very well when the Trump brand had some cachet. Any it had is diminishing, if not long gone.

[Deuxcents]

2. Time to vote

Those fine citizens need to replace the council. If it’s that environmental sensitive, that should be it.