Donald Trump’s Scottish golfing dream could be heading for the rough, and some believe it may even find itself in the bunker.
The trouble for the aspiring Republican presidential candidate is that a new piece of legislation – the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill – is about to be introduced which could put his multi-million dollar golf course interests in the far reaches of the United Kingdom under pressure.
It might even ultimately contribute to him having to sell one of his two prized Scottish golfing estates.
This radical new law will give local communities the right to buy private land – irrespective of the landowner’s wishes – if they can satisfy the relevant authorities that they need it for essential purposes such as building a school, affordable housing or a doctor’s surgery.
Having antagonized so many people in Scotland over the construction of the Trump International Golf Links venue on the Menie estate in Aberdeenshire, a feeling is building that the new law could be used by locals against the billionaire businessman to give him his comeuppance.
Andy Wightman, a Scottish Green Party candidate standing in the Lothian region at next month’s Scottish Parliament election, supports the new land reform Bill and predicts it has the potential to scupper Trump.
He told Heat Street: “This new Bill confers powers on the community which didn’t exist before and some of Mr Trump’s land holdings could be affected by it.
“The Bill is a bit like a compulsory purchase order. It is designed for communities who need land for the wider good. Mr Trump tried to use a compulsory purchase order to acquire private land when building his golf course in Aberdeenshire, so this will do something to balance the equation.”
Trump bought the Menie estate, which lies on the east coast of Scotland in an area of great natural beauty overlooking the North Sea, for £7 million ($10 million) in 2006. His self-declared goal, unsurprisingly, was to create “the greatest golf course in the world”.
Even though some of the estate had been designated a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) because of its unusually shifting sand dunes, the bulldozers eventually moved in to create the 18-hole course anyway. It also boasts a hotel and restaurant.
After a protracted planning battle and run-ins with those living nearby in the village of Balmedie – some of which were documented in the 2011 film You’ve Been Trumped – the course opened in 2012.
Since then it has been hampered by a further dispute over the building of 11 wind turbines in Aberdeen Bay. Trump fought the £230 million turbine scheme for four years, arguing the wind farm would destroy the view from his golf course, but in December 2015 the Supreme Court ruled against him.
John Munro, who lives in Balmedie on the fringes of Trump’s course, said the new land reform legislation offers hope to locals whose attempts to stall Trump’s own development plans have so far failed.
Speaking to Heat Street from his home, surrounded by 15ft piles of Trump construction detritus, Mr Munro said: “The man is a great publicity machine.
“He’s hoodwinked the council here and the Scottish government and he’s got away with it. They just ignore us. They even ignore the council. The council’s terrified of them. We’d be interested in pursuing it [using the new law to force Trump to sell some of the estate].”
But will it even be necessary to use the new law?
Scottish Green Party candidate Andy Wightman, who has studied Trump’s finances closely, adds: “I think Mr Trump will end up selling his golf course.
“It appears to be losing money; the active dune system is a problem on a practical level because there is so much sand on the course; the local investment he promised has not materialized; it will probably never be a certified course; and it is not likely to host a major championship.
“He’s also burnt his boats with those who have influence in golfing circles in Scotland. It is basically a vanity project which isn’t sustainable. The course is almost certainly losing money.”
All of which presumably leaves Trump feeling rather teed off.
