President Donald Trump’s frequent visits to his golf properties have attracted renewed attention following his recent four-day trip to Scotland. Forbes reports that the President has spent about one-third of his presidency at his properties.
During his visit to Scotland from July 25-28, Trump inaugurated a new 18-hole golf course at his Balmedie resort, which he dedicated to his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, a native of Lewis in Scotland’s Western Isles. The trip also included a stay at his Turnberry resort on the west coast, about 50 miles from Glasgow, and a brief meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on July 28 to discuss U.S.-U.K. trade relations.
The trip rekindled longstanding tensions with local residents who have opposed Trump’s development efforts for nearly two decades. Michael Forbes, a 73-year-old retired quarry worker and salmon fisherman whose 23 acres adjoin the Trump International Scotland resort, remains firm in his refusal to sell his land, stating there is no possibility he would sell to Trump.
The conflict with residents dates back to 2006 when Trump acquired the Menie Estate north of Aberdeen. His development plans required purchasing land from nearby residents, including the Forbes family. When Forbes and others refused to sell, Trump reportedly asked the Aberdeenshire Council to consider compulsory land purchase, which would allow acquisition without owner consent if deemed in the public interest.
The dispute escalated in 2010 when workers building a road on the golf course broke a water pipe serving the Forbes property. The pipe remained inadequately repaired for more than five years, leaving the family without reliable water access. During this period, Molly Forbes, Michael’s mother, relied on buckets from a nearby well and bottled water. Michael Forbes eventually repaired the pipe himself in 2016. Molly Forbes passed away in 2021 at age 96.
Trump’s promised economic benefits for the area have largely not materialized. According to planning documents and public accounts, Trump initially pledged to invest $1.5 billion in the golf project and create more than 1,000 permanent jobs plus 5,000 construction positions. Instead, the development has created only 84 jobs, fewer than the 100 that existed when Trump acquired the land. Rather than the promised 450-room luxury hotel, the site features a 19-room boutique hotel and a small clubhouse.
Financial records indicate that the Menie Estate golf course lost $1.9 million in 2023, marking its 11th consecutive annual loss since its acquisition in 2006. Residents report the fairway is less than half full even during peak summer months.
The president’s golfing habits have been criticized due to their cost to taxpayers. During his first presidential term, Trump played golf at least 142 times. Each trip from the White House to Palm Beach, Florida, costs taxpayers approximately $1 million, according to The Guardian. A HuffPost analysis found that as of March 8, Trump’s Florida golf weekends since his January 20 inauguration have cost taxpayers $18 million.
In March, Trump announced winning the Men’s Club Championship at his Trump International Golf Club in Palm Beach County, Florida, calling it “such a great honor” and suggesting it would probably be his last championship win. The 78-year-old president has won similar tournaments at his courses in 2023 and 2024.
Trump’s relationship with Forbes magazine has also deteriorated, with the president recently attacking the publication on his Truth Social platform. In June, Trump wrote that Forbes “continues to hang around like a bad disease” and criticized the outlet’s coverage of his business dealings. He specifically targeted Forbes reporter Dan Alexander, claiming the publication was purposely inaccurate in its reporting about him.
The president’s golf-related travel has included specialized security equipment, notably “Golf Force One,” an armored golf cart used during his Scotland visit. The White House confirmed this vehicle is part of Trump’s fleet of specialty security vehicles.
Trump’s son Eric has expressed hopes that the family’s Turnberry course could host The Open Championship, though he acknowledged politics may be preventing this opportunity. The course has received less local opposition than the Balmedie development, with Trump investing millions to restore the 101-year-old hotel and three golf courses after purchasing the site in 2014.
