Donald Trump to open second golf course at his Scottish resort next year despite thousands of complaints from locals over the new 18-hole links
Donald Trump will open a second golf course at his Scottish resort next year, despite heavy criticism from locals.
Players will be welcomed to the MacLeod Course – named after the former US president’s mother, Mary – at the Trump International resort in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire, from summer 2025.
The resort says the new 18-hole links will feature the ‘largest sand dunes in Scotland’ and will form ‘the largest 36 holes in golf’ next to the original course, which opened in 2012.
Plans for the course were approved in 2019, alongside proposals for 550 new homes in the area north of Aberdeen, along with shops, offices and restaurants.
Trump International Golf Links had been involved in a long-running dispute with residents in the area over the project, which led to Aberdeenshire Council being bombarded with complaints when the plans were first announced.
Donald Trump has announced that his new links golf course will open in Aberdeen in the summer of 2025
Players are welcomed to the MacLeod Course – named after the former US president’s mother Mary – at the Trump International resort in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire
Images of the new track show that it is located on the beach, a few meters from the North Sea
Planners revealed it had received 2,921 valid comments from the public about the plan, of which 2,918 were objections and only 3 supported the Trump Organization’s application.
But despite significant local opposition – and a lack of local support – the council approved the £150 million plan.
Trump International claimed the new course was ‘one of the most environmentally friendly and sustainable’ ever built, as images show it is on the beach, meters from the North Sea.
Sarah Malone, executive vice president of Trump International Scotland, called the course “one of the great wonders of golf.”
She said, “Since I did groundbreaking work with President Trump and Eric Trump [his son] Last spring we made extraordinary progress.
‘This course is unlike any other links course ever built and exceeds all expectations.
‘A truly remarkable team of world-class architects, engineers, environmental scientists and industry specialists have worked tirelessly in the background – carving out every square inch of this phenomenal piece of land to create one of the great wonders of golf.’
The 18-hole MacLeod Course will open next to the original links, which opened in 2012 after a long, controversial planning process.
The 18-hole MacLeod Course is located next to the original links, which opened in 2012 after a long, controversial planning process (Photo: Donald Trump plays a round of golf after the opening of The Trump International Golf Links Course on July 10, 2012)
Trump International claimed the new course was “one of the most environmentally friendly and sustainable” ever built
A view of Trump’s luxury golf course and resort in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire
Trump International Golf Links had been involved in a long-running dispute with residents in the area over the project (pictured under construction in August 2024), when Aberdeenshire Council was bombarded with complaints from locals objecting to the plans
Mr Trump handed over control of both his Scottish courses to his son Eric (pictured in August). He became president in 2017 but retained a financial interest
The 18-hole MacLeod Course (pictured right) will be built adjacent to the original links at Balmedie, which opened in 2012 after a long, controversial planning process
The original trail was criticized for its location due to the special scientific significance of shifting sand dunes. But it was eventually approved by Scottish ministers.
The approval came despite criticism that the scheme deviated from original plans for the site, which included a 450-bedroom hotel as part of the luxury golf resort’s first phase.
The hotel has not yet been built and current tourist accommodation is limited to 21 rooms in MacLeod House and an associated lodge.
However, the council’s planning committee recommended the application for approval, stating it would ‘still result in a development that will deliver economic and social benefits to the local area and region’.
Trump handed control of his golf empire to his sons when he became president in 2017, but retained a financial stake.
The company also owns courses in Turnberry, Ayrshire, and Doonbeg, Co Clare, Ireland.