Trump Plans to Build Two Links Courses in Scotland


Donald Trump, whose passion for golf is well documented and whose mother was born in Scotland, plans to design and build an 800-acre golf development on a stretch of sand dunes at Menie Estate, Aberdeenshire, in the northeast part of Scotland.

The Trump Organization, which already has $200 million invested in the U.S. golf industry, is in the preliminary stages of a planning application to build the multi-million-dollar project. The site is located outside of Aberdeen, close to such well-known courses as Cruden Bay, Royal Aberdeen and Murcar.

The development will be known as Trump International Golf Links, Scotland. It will contain two golf courses, a five-star hotel with associated facilities, a state-of-the-art golf academy and a turfgrass research center. The development will also include a mixed-use residential element.

The courses will handled by Donald J. Trump Signature Designs, in association with Tom Fazio, nephew of Tom Fazio, and his firm, Tom Fazio II, LLC. The property, which features towering dunes beside the North Sea, has been purchased. Planning and permitting are underway, with work scheduled to start this September. The first course should be opened by spring 2008.

“Mr. Trump was committed to identify a world-class traditional links site in the home of golf and Menie Estate was chosen because it satisfies all of the strict project criteria set out by The Trump Organization,” said Ashley Cooper, Executive Vice President, Acquisitions and Development for The Trump Organization. “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.”

Membership details for Trump International Golf Links, Scotland will be announced soon. Cooper confirmed that the Trump Organization is committed to maintaining strong ties with the local community and working closely with all of the various officials to ensure the development brings maximum benefit to the region.

Projected project costs are not available, but Cooper estimated that the new links course alone would cost in excess of $18 million. The ultimate cost of the development will depend on the outcome of the planning application, which will be submitted to Aberdeenshire Council later this May. It is anticipated that costs for the overall project will exceed $500 million.

Jack Perry, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, commented on the proposal. The company, through its international arm of Scottish Development International, has worked closely with The Trump Organization in planning the project. “This is a very welcome application which has the potential to impact favorably not only on the economy of the northeast of Scotland, but on the country as a whole. Investments such as this help Scotland to improve its tourism product and gain a valuable profile in world markets.

“The Trump Organization is renowned for the high standards it sets in its commercial ventures worldwide and, if the planning application is successful, then Scotland will undoubtedly benefit from being part of such an expansive and successful chain of golf properties,” Perry added.

“With one of the most authentic and diverse golfing experiences possible, Scotland is renowned as the home of golf and as a top quality destination for visitors from across the world and this development further confirms this strong reputation,” said VisitScotland Chairman Peter Lederer. “That Scotland is the first choice in Europe for a corporation with the international profile of The Trump Organization, shows we truly are leading the way.”

Trump’s passion for Scotland stems from pride in his Scottish roots. His mother, Mary MacLeod, grew up on the Island of Lewis in Stornoway where her first language was Gaelic. She moved to New York City at the age of 20. His decision to build the Trump International Golf Links, Scotland is the fulfillment of a long-held dream.

When completed, the Scotland project will join five other Trump Golf properties:

Trump National Golf Club in Westchester, New York
Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey
Trump National Golf Club, Los Angeles, California
Trump International Golf Club, Palm Beach County, Florida
Trump International Golf Club on the island of Canouan in the Grenadines.

For further information on this project, visit www.trumpgolfscotland.com. For more information on Trump golf courses, go to www.trumpnational.com.