I never liked The Apprentice. Then again, office politics are about as relatable to me as keeping the materialistic ego of your supermodel girlfriend in check.
It’s easy to knock Donald Trump. In fact, I do it all the time. It’s fun. I hold weekly “Isn’t Trump a doofus?” dinner parties. What do you expect with that cocky attitude and wavy hair you could surf on?
But unlike many old school Scots and even TravelGolf.com’s Tim McDonald, I’m not knocking Trump’s development in Aberdeen just yet. (For the full column at GolfEurope.com click here).
In a column last year, Blue-Collar Daddy Mac wrote how Trump would in a sense be ruining the golf tradition Scotland has spent a half-millenium on, and a “beefy guy in a kilt should boot him out".
What McDonald omitted is that big money, privatized and profitable golf ventures nestled beside century-old public clubs are nothing new to Scotland. Trump may be showing up late to the cocktail party, really. Ritzy clubs and resorts like Spey Valley at Aviemore, Loch Lomond Golf Club, Kingsbarns, Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle and the Carrick at Loch Lomond (which debuts in the spring) all charge big bucks and offer little relief to local Scots.
Time will tell if these resorts stand up. So far, the demand appears to be there.
Trump’s people brought me out to the stunning 1000 acre site north of Aberdeen during a recent trip there. After seeing the land first-hand that just oozes “golf course” and the genuine enthusiasm of Trump’s staff there (both native Scots) to do the resort the right way, I sense good things.
But let’s not forget there’s no Old Tom Morris Golf Club in Scotland. The game of golf is greater than the individual, something Trump’s ego can have a hard time conceding. I think it will be done the right way.
We’ll see in 2009.
The 1000 acres north of Aberdeen that will host Trump’s resort is stunning and screams “golf course".
| « Free TV on the internet thanks to TVU - ideal for travel | Tiger Woods Golf Design sounds expensive » |
Comment feed for this post
I got the opinions of probably 50 Scots while I was there. You're right, most Scots don't fancy the idea, but it's because of Trump's name, not what he's building. They don't seem to have as much animosity towards the other ritzy newbies in the country, which are really doing the same thing.
Donald Trump has the vision to see the great potential for a top class golf resort in this beautiful part of the world.
Many Brits do not welcome any form of Americanisation, but there is no doubt that we can learn a thing or two from our friends across the pond when it comes to good customer service.
I welcome the proposed resort, which will not only boost tourism in this largely forgotten part of Scotland, but also boost jobs and help to raise standards.
Aberdeen is very dependent on the oil and gas industry, but this is susceptiple to world markets and UK taxation. The natural assets of this part of Scotland are not subject to such fluctuations and we should encourage all efforts to improve our attraction to visitors from all parts of the globe.
Aberdeen has been very lucky of course to have oil, but then again SOME CITY SOMEWHERE would have benefitted from its discovery, Aberdeen was the perfect location with adequate facilities that could be developed) - I believe Dundee was considered initially.
As for it being cold, grey etc, DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE. Of course we get our fair share of bad weather, but in fact we get MORE than our fair share of beautiful weather (this last week for example, as I write). And YES it can also be VERY warm - witness most days in July last year being in the 20s & one day touching 30 degrees C. Nae bad, I'm sure you would agree.
Aberdeen ain't perfect, but it is a damned sight better than others would have you believe - why does it constistently win awards for its parks & gardens for example?
As for Trump, let him build his development, I agree it would be great for the area.
Yes oil in the N.Sea may be depleting, but there is still though to be as much still to get out of the basin (some suggest 30-40 years' worth) as has been discovered up till now, albeit more difficult to get at. BUT what has also evolved is Aberdeen becoming a world HUB for GLOBAL energy developments elsewhere in the world, perhaps THAT wasn't envisaged in the 70s when first oil came ashore from Forties. An increasing number of projects in the likes of Nigeria for example are driven out of Aberdeen.
Scotland, just down the road from two of the largest
rubbish dumps in the North East (the glow from the
methane burn off is beautiful) and the sound from
nearby industrial estate is lovely, with the sweet
tinkle of drilling pipes that will lul you to sleep
every night that you are in this Super Hotel.
As for the scenery, well you have plenty of time to enjoy it
as you sit in the morning, afternoon and evening
rush hour traffic.
All I can say is, if you can look at this as an adventure
then, good luck
It would be nice if there were more golf courses built into large towns instead of having to travel for miles for a decent game of golf
the granite quarry at rubislaw.Not to mention the steady decline in farming, and other industries that once thrived in scotland ,coal, steel,car manufacture etc, etc. Lets stop girning and encourage tourism in the north east.
some day we will tearfully lament the north sea tiger, along with the shoals o herring, and the weavers shuttle