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Donald Trump’s Scottish golf courses will receive £4 million in holiday pay during the pandemic
Donald Trump’s Scottish golf courses were given more than £4 million to lay off staff during the pandemic, reports show.
The former US president’s resorts claimed £1.1 million in 2021, on top of the more than £3 million claimed a year earlier, according to Companies House filings.
The courses in Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire were closed for much of the pandemic, causing losses.
In 2021, they lost a combined £15.4 million, with Trump’s son Eric blaming the ‘significant impact’ of Covid.
They were closed for the first three months of 2021, but Trump said business has returned to pre-pandemic levels since reopening.
Paid Leave: Former US President Donald Trump on the course of his golf resort at Turnberry in Ayrshire, Scotland
At Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire, membership ‘soared’ as it was ranked as Scotland’s best golf course.
And at Turnberry in Ayrshire, sales were aided by a ‘staycation’ boom, as visitors poured in. Sales were also supported by a surge in weddings and parties.
The easing of Covid restrictions helped sales double from a year earlier to £15.2m.
Eric Trump said the family is “fully committed” to both properties and wants to develop Turnberry to keep it “Scotland’s premier destination for luxury travel, championship golf and special events”.
Mr Trump has spoken of his pride in his heritage as his mother was from the Isle of Lewis.
Trump International Golf Links opened in Balmedie in 2012.
Two years later he bought Turnberry.
He handed over control of both to his sons Donald junior and Eric in 2017, and retains a financial interest in the resorts.