Lashed by cold winds and facing the gray waters of the North Sea, the sand dunes of Balmedie, Scotland, have long been a favorite spot for President Donald Trump. Now, at 79 and back in the White House, he’s making good on his 2023 pledge to expand his golf empire there.
Trump arrived in Scotland on Friday for a five-day visit to celebrate the upcoming opening of a new golf course near Aberdeen. The course is set to officially open on August 13 and already has tee times available for booking. His son Eric Trump is expected to cut the ribbon during the trip.
The visit has a dual purpose. The White House describes it as a “working trip,” with Trump scheduled to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Yet, the spotlight is clearly on the new Trump golf course and the promotional value it brings.
This isn’t Trump’s first Scottish venture. His original course, Trump International Scotland, located in Aberdeenshire, was controversial from the start. It sparked legal disputes, lost money for years, and was blamed for damaging protected sand dunes. Trump’s company also fought a losing legal battle over a nearby wind farm, claiming it spoiled views for golfers.
The latest course adds another layer to the complex relationship between Trump’s political role and his business. Critics argue that using a presidential trip to promote private ventures crosses ethical lines.
Jordan Libowitz of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington stated, “It’s as if the White House were almost an arm of the Trump Organization.”
During Trump’s first term, his company agreed not to make new deals with foreign firms. Now, with updated ethics rules, the Trump Organization has resumed global expansion — including plans in Qatar and Vietnam — even as the administration negotiates trade deals with those same nations.
Trump’s assets are currently held in a trust run by his children, who also oversee the day-to-day business.
The previous Aberdeen development also became part of the civil fraud case that accused Trump of inflating his assets. He claimed he could build thousands of homes but hadn’t built any, despite borrowing based on their assumed value. A judge found him liable and ordered a $355 million penalty, which with interest has grown to over $510 million as the appeal continues.
Trump’s passion for golf is well known, and he’s not the first president to play in Scotland. Dwight Eisenhower played at Turnberry in 1959. More recently, George W. Bush visited Gleneagles in 2005.
Golf has long been tied to the presidency. William Howard Taft was the first regular presidential golfer. Woodrow Wilson played nearly daily and had red balls made to play in the snow. Lyndon Johnson’s swing earned comparisons to fighting a snake.
Bill Clinton, who once joked about improving his game while in office, restored the putting green at the White House. Barack Obama installed a golf simulator, which Trump later upgraded.
Trump is often described as a skilled golfer. His handicap index was once listed at 2.5, although he hasn’t posted an official round since 2021. That’s better than Joe Biden’s 6.7 and Barack Obama’s self-rated 13. However, the White House says Trump currently plays with no listed handicap.
While opinions differ on the ethics of mixing business and politics, the president’s trip to Scotland is clearly a high-profile example of the two worlds blending — with golf at the center of it all.
