Trump_International_Golf_Links,_Scotland

Trump International Golf Links, Scotland

Trump International Golf Links, Scotland

Golf course in Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Trump International Golf Links, Scotland is a golf course in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, owned by Donald Trump. It opened in 2012.

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History

In 2006, Trump purchased a 1,400-acre (570-hectare) plot just north of Aberdeen at Menie (Balmedie), Scotland, with the intention of turning it into a £1 billion golf resort and "the world's best golf course" capable of hosting world class events such as The Open Championship. Despite opposition from many people both locally and in other parts of Scotland and the UK, and negative reaction from a number of environmental groups, the project continued.[1]

The development plan for Trump International Golf Links, Scotland (TIGLS) included two 18-hole courses, a 5-star hotel, golf villas, holiday homes, and a golf academy. It was strongly supported by local business leaders[2] but met opposition from local residents, campaigners and environmental groups anxious to preserve the 4,000-year-old sand dunes that were designated an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest). In June 2019, Scottish Natural Heritage ruled that the golf course had "partially destroyed" the sand dune system, causing permanent habitat loss, and recommended that the SSSI status be revoked.[3][4] The SSSI special status was removed in December 2020.[5]

Though the development was recommended for approval by Aberdeenshire Council officials[6] the development was initially rejected by a local subcommittee of elected members. However it was subsequently approved following a controversial planning inquiry ordered by the Scottish Government in June 2008, at which Trump personally testified. Work began on the site in July 2010.[7]

In March 2009, the Trump Organization had asked the Council to use its powers of compulsory purchase to acquire some areas of land at Balmedie not forming part of the original TIGLS site for which planning permission already existed. These included four family-owned properties.[8] In response local campaigners established Tripping Up Trump, a movement aimed at protecting the families at Menie being threatened with eviction. When it emerged at the end of January 2011 that Queen guitarist Brian May had agreed to the use of the band's song "Bohemian Rhapsody" in a film highlighting the plight of the families, Trump appeared to deny in a media statement that there had ever been an eviction threat, declaring "we have no interest in compulsory purchase and have never applied for it."[9]

In September 2011, the Trump Organization lodged a formal objection to the proposed construction of a wind farm off the Aberdeenshire coast not far from the site of the new hotel and luxury housing. Donald Trump also wrote personally to the First Minister of Scotland protesting mainly on aesthetic grounds at the proposed erection of offshore wind turbines, which he characterized as 'ugly'. His letter claimed that he was protesting on behalf of the Scottish people, 'not... merely for the benefit of Trump International Golf Links.'[10] The Organization's subsequent lawsuit failed[11] as did the appeal.[12]

In 2011, a documentary directed by Anthony Baxter called You've Been Trumped[13] was released, showing the situation of local residents adversely affected by the resort's construction. It contains footage of, among others, economists who query the benefits claimed for the local economy, environmentalists critical of the damage allegedly caused by the development and golfers who voice doubts about claims made for the resort by the Trump Organization.[14] It also shows Anthony Baxter being arrested by a Grampian Police officer, while filming; he was later released without charge.[15] Baxter has been quoted as saying that Trump branded the film 'boring' and Baxter himself 'a fraud'.[16] The film has won several awards including the Hamptons Film Festival Social Justice Award, the Maysles Brothers Award for best documentary at the Denver Film Festival and the Sedona International Film Festival Director's Choice Award.[17]

The course opened on July 10, 2012.[18]

Despite Trump's threat to withdraw any further investment in Scotland amid the wind turbine controversy, he later purchased the prestigious Turnberry resort in Ayrshire in April 2014.[19]

Aberdeenshire Council granted planning approval for a second golf course on the Menie site, to be named the MacLeod Course after Donald Trump's mother Mary Anne MacLeod, in October 2020.[20]

Operation

By 31 December 2018 the accounts reveal an overall expenditure on assets to date of £33,659,179. During the year there had been an operating loss of £866,991 and loss before tax of £1,077,504.[21] This loss represented a small improvement on the previous year (2017), when it made a loss of around £1,250,000.[21] The number of employees had reduced from 84 during 2017 to 77 in 2018.[21] The shareholders' deficit increased by just over £1,000,000 to £11,725,897.

For 31 December 2019 the accounts reveal an overall asset value of £32,071,221. During the year there had been an operating loss of £896,367 and loss before tax of £1,105,763. This loss represented a further decline on the previous year (2018).[22] The number of employees rose back up to 84 during 2019 from 77 in 2018. The shareholders' deficit again increased by over £1M to £12,783,441.

In February 2023, the company managing the golf course, Trump International Golf Club Scotland Ltd, reported pre-tax losses of 697,000 pounds ($860 000) in 2021.[23]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms granted to "The Trump International Golf Club Scotland Ltd" in 2011 bears the battle cry: "Nunquam Concedere".

In 2008, Trump promoted the golf course with a coat of arms that he had used for his American businesses, but was warned by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the highest authority for Scottish heraldry, that a Scottish law disallows the use of unregistered arms. In January 2012, shortly after the inauguration of the golf course, Trump unveiled a new coat of arms that had been granted to "The Trump International Golf Club Scotland Ltd" by the Lord Lyon in 2011.[24][25]

A spokesperson for the golf course said that "the coat of arms brings together visual elements that signify different aspects of the Trump family heritage [...], the Lion Rampant [in the crest] makes reference to Scotland and the stars to America. Three chevronels are used to denote the sky, sand dunes and sea—the essential components of the site, and the double-[headed] Eagle represents the dual nature and nationality of Trump's heritage (Scottish and German). The Eagle clutches golf balls making reference to the great name of golf, and the motto Numquam Concedere is Latin for Never Give Up—Trump's philosophy".[25]

The same coat of arms was later used for the Trump International Golf Links and Hotel Ireland.[26][27]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Donald Trump plans £300m "golfing paradise" for rural Scotland". Wikinews. 1 April 2006.
  2. [2]
    "Trump golf inquiry in full swing". BBC News. 10 June 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  3. [3]
    Carrell, Severin (28 June 2019). "Dunes at Trump golf course in Scotland to lose protected status". The Guardian.
  4. [4]
    Campbell, Glenn (28 June 2019). "'Destroyed' Trump golf course dunes to lose special status". BBC News. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  5. [5]
    "Trump golf course dunes lose special environmental status". BBC News. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  6. [6]
    "Trump wins approval for controversial $2.4b golf course plans". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia. 4 November 2008.
  7. [7]
    "News and Events". Trump International Scotland Limited. 12 October 2010. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012.
  8. [8]
    "Aberdeenshire Council's position: Compulsory Purchase Orders". Aberdeenshire Council. 22 July 2009. Archived from the original (News Release) on 12 December 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  9. [9]
    Crighton, Ryan (31 January 2011). "Trump lifts threat of eviction at resort site". The Press and Journal. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  10. [10]
    "Donald Trump's wind farm fight 'for Scotland's benefit'". BBC News. 15 September 2011.
  11. [11]
    Lord President; Lord Menzies; Lord Malcolm (5 June 2015). "Trump International Golf Club Scotland Limited and the Trump Organization LLC against The Scottish Ministers". Scottish Courts and Tribunals. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  12. [12]
    "New Judgment: Trump International Golf Club Scotland Ltd & Anor v The Scottish Ministers (Scotland) [2015] UKSC 74". UK Supreme Court Blog. 16 December 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  13. [13]
    Fielder, Miles (10 July 2012). "You've Been Trumped". List Film.
  14. [14]
    Ward, Bob (14 September 2011). "You've Been Trumped: film reveals tycoon's ruthless efforts to build Scottish golf resort". The Guardian. London.
  15. [15]
    "You've Been Trumped – Suzanne Kelly Reviews". Aberdeen Voice. 30 June 2011.
  16. [16]
    O'Reilly, Brendan J. (15 October 2011). "Scots Take on The Donald in 'Trumped'". East Hampton Patch. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012.
  17. [17]
    Multiple cites:
  18. [18]
    Tuffrey, Laurie (10 July 2012). "Donald Trump opens controversial Scottish golf course". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  19. [19]
    Corrigan, James (29 April 2014). "Donald Trump's purchase of Turnberry is good". The Telegraph. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  20. [20]
    "Construction of second Trump golf course at Menie approved". BBC News. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  21. [21]
    "Trump's Aberdeenshire golf resort posts £1m annual losses". BBC News. 5 October 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  22. [22]
    "Directors' Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2019". Companies House. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  23. [23]
    "Trump's Scottish golf courses recorded more losses in 2021". Reuters. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  24. [24]
    @LyonCourt (14 November 2016). "Trump International Golf Club Scotland Ltd was granted arms in 2011, replacing an assumed design they had previously used" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2018 – via Twitter.
  25. [25]
    "Donald Trump awarded Scottish coat of arms after four year battle". Deadline. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  26. [26]
    "Trump confirms Doonbeg buy – rebranded "Trump International Golf Links, Ireland"". irishgolfdesk.com. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  27. [27]
    "About the Course – Trump International Golf Club 2016 – Doonbeg". trumpgolfireland.com. Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
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