Scottish golf resort Trump-ed

This past February, Ecotravel News posted a video about environmental protestations over the proposed Trump golf course/resort near Aberdeen, Scotland.

Environmentalists claimed that part of the golf course would encompass and disturb delicate sand dunes that house numerous wildlife species.

Now in a follow-up, The Economist examines the implications of the golf resort.

Trump prevailed in a public inquiry with the backing of Scotland's first minister (and avid golfer) Alex Salmond. But the question now is just how profitable can this resort be especially now that global economies have plunged?

"Recovering the investment depends on selling the [resort's] houses [950 holiday apartments, 36 golf villas, 500 houses]. This autumn, after five years of steadily rising, Aberdeen house prices suddenly dropped by 7% and sales volumes halved.

Golf is no longer a sure-fire winner either. The American owner of the ultra-posh Loch Lomond club, which counts Prince Andrew as a member and hosts the Scottish Open, is having to sell it to repay loans."

Read the full story: Trump's Scottish venture, birdie or bogey?