Trump Aberdeen

Perhaps no other golf course in the history of the world has been surrounded by as many polarized opinions and as much geopolitical drama than the Trump International near Aberdeen. There can be no doubt that Old Tom would scoff in disdain that his glorious game was mixed with such unsavory affairs of state, but alas when it comes to this course and the parties involved, the pairing was simply unavoidable. Still, if there was ever an example that golf should never be mixed with politics, but instead reserved as an escape from it, this links in the dunes of Aberdeenshire is most certainly it.

The only thing in equal standing to the outsized personality behind Trump International is the grand stage on which it was built. The magnificent dunes are among the largest in Scotland, and although it rarely comes into play, one is keenly aware of the sea thanks to several inspiring views throughout the links.

Of course, a phenomenal piece of property can only take a golf course so far; it takes the right vision from the designer to bring it together. Martin Hawtree’s resume includes work on four courses in the Open rota and still countless others throughout the British Isles. In his wildest dreams would Hawtree have a seaside landscape such as this to craft a world-class links - the final layout was clearly in step with those grandiose visions.