Former US President Donald Trump is set to expand his presence in Scotland with the opening of a second golf course at his Donald Trump International resort in Aberdeenshire. The new 18-hole links course, named the MacLeod Course after Donald Trump’s Lewis-born mother, Mary MacLeod, is scheduled to welcome golfers in the summer of 2025. Located in Menie, this new development will join the existing championship course, which was completed in 2012, forming what Donald Trump International describes as “the greatest 36 holes in golf.”
The MacLeod Course will be built amid the striking landscape of Aberdeenshire, featuring what the resort claims are the “largest sand dunes in Scotland.” The project broke ground last year, three years after securing approval from the local council, and has been described as a feat of both design and environmental consideration. Donald Trump International claims that the new course is “one of the most environmentally friendly and sustainable” ever constructed, a stark contrast to the controversy that has surrounded the resort in the past.
Donald rump’s original course at Menie was heavily criticized for damaging the natural landscape. In 2019, the sand dunes that were part of the resort lost their status as a nationally important Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), sparking environmental concerns. Despite this, Donald Trump International maintains that the MacLeod Course has been designed with sustainability in mind. Images of the development show the course situated close to the North Sea, with areas of rough covered in heather, embracing the natural beauty of the Scottish coastline.
Sarah Malone, Executive Vice President of Donald Trump International Scotland, lauded the project’s progress and ambition, stating, “This course is unlike any other links course ever built and is exceeding every expectation. A truly remarkable, world-class team of architects, engineers, environmental scientists, and industry specialists have been working tirelessly in the background.” She hailed the new course as “one of the great wonders in the world of golf.”
Donald Trump handed over control of his Scottish golf resorts to his sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, prior to becoming president in 2017, though he has retained a financial interest. His Donald Trump International Golf Club Scotland continues to operate the Aberdeenshire course, which has faced both local opposition and environmental criticism since its inception. Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s Turnberry course in Ayrshire has recently been cited as the most expensive place to play golf in the UK, with fees reaching up to £1,000 per round.
