Donald Trump opens “the greatest golf course in the world”

Donald Trump, the property magnate who once declared his interest in running for President of the USA, has officially launched a major new golf course in Aberdeenshire which could eventually lead to the construction of over 1,000 new homes in the region.

Mr Trump, who teed off with former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie yesterday (Tuesday), has long proposed to develop up to 1,450 new homes as part of wider plans for the resort at the Menie Estate north of Aberdeen.

Despite widespread opposition from local residents and a series of failed planning applications, Trump has finally got his way and developed the golf course, which will open to the public this weekend.

Now the property developer wants to develop new homes in the area and is merely waiting to see if plans for an offshore wind farm, which he fiercely opposes, are given the go-ahead.

The billionaire is concerned about the proposal to develop a small wind-power project because he says that it will destroy the picturesque coastline.

In a statement earlier this year, Mr Trump said: "All further plans for future development, including the hotel, are now on hold until the Scottish government makes a decision on the application for the European offshore wind deployment centre submitted by Vattenfall and Areg [Aberdeen renewable energy group].

"If the north-east of Scotland is serious about tourism and creating a global golf destination it cannot allow the coastline to be ruined by an ugly industrial park [11 64-storey test turbines] directly off the shoreline."