The story behind Donald Trump’s new Scottish golf course

Named after Donald Trump’s mother, The MacLeod Golf Course will be built on the sand dunes north of Aberdeen, in the same location as Trump’s current golf course.

The environmental impacts of building on these dunes have already been noticed, with the construction of Trump International Golf Links Aberdeen in 2020.

What could the environmental impact be?

It impacted the ecosystem to the point that the site lost its SSSI – Site of Special Scientific Interest.

SSSI is a conservation designation zone significant for science due to the presence of rare species, fauna, and flora or geological and physiological features.

What have critics said?

After hearing about the new McLeod Golf course on the sand dunes, the Scottish Greens immediately reacted to the news last October

“Another Trump vanity project is the last thing we need,” said Maggie Chapman, representative for North-East Scotland.

“We should be protecting our natural environment, not offering it up to a racist climate change-denier with a long history of lies and dodgy business dealings.”

She also said that Trump “should not be allowed to encroach even further on the Aberdeenshire landscape than he already has.”

How long was the SSSI in place?

The announcement of the new golf course in Balmedie provides an opportunity to reflect on the history of the lost SSSI in connection with the development of the Trump International Golf Links Aberdeen.

The land of Menie Estate, near Balmedie, was purchased in 2006 by Donald Trump despite opposition from climate groups. This land was originally part of the Forevan Links SSSI.

Trump then decided to build the Trump International Golf Links Aberdeen.

Despite the conclusion of the planning inquiry by NatureScot declaring that the construction would damage the SSSI, the permission was granted by Scottish ministers due to the economic prospect it would bring to the region.

In 2012, Trump International Golf Links Scotland opened its doors to the public.

Discussion started in 2016 between experts about the possible loss of environmental value for the site since the construction of the golf course.

A few years later, in 2019, NatureScot declared the site might lose its SSSI status due to partial destruction and no possible recovery. In the following years, in 2020, Menie Links officially lost its SSSI designation by the Protected Areas Committee (PAC) of NatureScot.

At the time NatureScot declared that there were no longer valid reasons “to protect the dunes at Menie as they do not include enough of the special, natural features for which they were designated.” They added that there was not enough scientific interest on site.

The rest of the site, the reduced Forevan Links SSSI was then linked with Ythan Estuary SSSI and the sand dunes of Forvie.

READ MORE: Scottish constituencies most supportive of an election revealed by major petition

What’s so special about sand dunes?

Sand dunes are a dynamic system that takes years to form. They have a complex plant system and host multiple species. One day to another the shape of the dunes might change due to the direction of the wind.

Terns, plovers and amphibians are keen inhabitants of these dunes. Up north of the Trump Golf Course, the Forvie Nature Reserve hosts different species of terns such as Sandwich, Common or Little terns.

These dunes are home to various species of rare plants.

As sand dunes are dynamic, farming or golf course construction could stabilise the floor, disrupt and interrupt the natural process of the sand formation, and the dune will become fossilised.

On a day-to-day basis, the sand dunes could stop changing shape due to the stabilised floor of diverse construction.

READ MORE: Anger in Scottish village after 100 houses built with no mains link

Is this the only Trump project in Scotland right now?

After investing massively in new golf courses, it might not be the end of the Trump family’s investment in Aberdeenshire following the comments of Donald Trump’s son.

This week Eric Trump said that Aberdeen’s oil and gas were the “greatest in the world” and “totally mistreated”.

The Trump family owns multiple estates in Aberdeenshire such as The Menie Estate, the Trump Macleod House and Lodge, and in the future the Macleod Golf Course. They also own the Turnberry Golf Resort in Ayrshire.