Trump Announces Plans for Second Course in Scotland


Despite being in a stalemate with the Scottish government over Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond's plans to build an offshore wind farm overlooking his new golf course, New York developer Donald Trump is proceeding with a second course at Trump International Golf Links near Aberdeen.

Trump submitted preliminary plans to Aberdeenshire Council for the second course, seven months after the initial layout opened for play.

To be named after his Scottish-born mother Mary MacLeod, Trump's proposed, 7,540-yard course would be built on the southern end of his 1,400-acre Menie Estate property, 10 miles north of Aberdeen on Scotland's northeast coast.

At full build-out, Trump's resort will have a total investment of $1.17 billion. In addition to the original course designed by English architect Martin Hawtree, the facility currently contains a 22-acre driving range and a clubhouse. Hawtree will also design the second course.

Plans to develop a 450-bed five-star hotel, 500 homes and 950 short-term rental apartments are on hold until the dispute over the off-shore wind farm - which is in full view of the resort - has been settled.

Trump International Golf Links opened to rave reviews last summer. Since making its debut, the course hosted over 10,000 players between July and October. Trump is hoping it will host a British Open or Ryder Cup in the future.

"The unprecedented demand to play our championship course has accelerated our plans to build the second course," Trump said in the statement.

Sarah Malone, executive vice president for Trump International Golf Links Scotland, is overseeing the development of the Mary MacLeod course. "Our plans for the second golf course are moving forward rapidly and we're delighted to reveal the indicative layout," said Malone.

"We are more committed than ever to creating the greatest golf destination in the world. Following the launch of our championship course last year, Aberdeenshire is now considered a must-visit destination for golf. The addition of a second course will further strengthen this."

Of the upcoming layout, Hawtree noted in a statement: "I am excited at the opportunity of developing a second course for Mr. Trump. At the center, there will be an outstanding par-72 golf course, ranging between 7,500 and 5,500 yards, and situated on land with an extraordinary richness of landscape and topography; but every inch a seaside links course.

"The special and subtle challenge for me is to ensure that it sits comfortably beside its majestic neighbor, neither outshone by the existing course nor making any attempt to mimic or rival those Leviathan qualities."

Of naming the new course after his mother - who was born on the island of Lewis, Trump said "It was a very easy decision to make. I thought in terms colors and I thought in terms of east-west and north-south, but in the end I decided the first one should be named the championship course and I always felt the MacLeod Course would be great name for the second - there is such a great history with MacLeods and Scotland and my mother was a Macleod.

"She was a proud Scot. She loved this country so much and I think she would be very proud to have the course named after her. My mother would go to back to Scotland religiously and she loved everything about it."