Anyone who has been to Aberdeen International Links, or indeed the Trump International Scotland Turnberry Resort, will know that when it comes to building golf courses, there are few better in the business.
And, in its latest endeavour, Trump International Scotland has announced the highly anticipated 2025 opening of a new championship links course in Aberdeenshire. Promising to be one of the most environmentally sustainable golf courses ever constructed, this latest edition is designed to blend luxury with its natural surroundings.
The course is no ordinary project; it intertwines three unique landscapes: towering sand dunes (the largest in Scotland), heather-filled heathlands, and sweeping wetlands. Together, these elements create a modern links course that embraces the natural beauty of the area while elevating the sport.
Sustainability at the forefront
A standout factor of the course is its extraordinary commitment to sustainability and environmental impact. With nearly all materials used in its construction being sourced directly from the site itself — except for the drainage and irrigation piping — the project has drastically reduced its carbon footprint, avoiding the need to import bulk materials and relying instead on a huge screening operation to harvest sand, stone, and soil on-site.
Behind the scenes, a top-tier team of architects, engineers, environmental scientists, and industry experts have been working together for over 15 years to carefully craft the course to blend effortlessly into the natural landscape, showcasing an unparalleled understanding of the land’s unique characteristics.
The vision is to complement the already world-renowned championship links at Trump International, creating what the organisation calls “The Greatest 36 Holes in Golf.”
A dedicated team
Golflink Evolve, a specialist in links course construction, has been brought on as the principal contractor, leading the charge in realising this ambitious vision. According to Sarah Malone, Executive Vice President of Trump International Scotland, the team’s efforts have already surpassed expectations.
“Since breaking ground with President Trump and Eric Trump last spring, we have made extraordinary progress. This course is unlike any other links course ever built and is exceeding every expectation. There are very few great stretches of developable links land in the world as good as this,” said Malone.
Malone praised the hard work of the world-class team involved: “A truly remarkable, world-class team of architects, engineers, environmental scientists and industry specialists have been working tirelessly in the background – etching out every square inch of this phenomenal piece of land to create one of the great wonders in the world of golf.”
Two-time major winner John Daly also expressed his enthusiasm for the course: “Trump Aberdeen’s new course is one of the most spectacular links courses you are ever going to find in the world! It’s beautiful! I had the opportunity to see it firsthand this year and can’t wait to return and play it!”
Similarly, Paul McGinley, a Legends Tour ambassador and one of Europe’s most prominent professional golfers, shared his thoughts: “I have no doubt that the addition of this new golf course will provide not just a great golfing exam but also an aesthetic one with views of the North Sea from most holes. It is great to see such huge investment in the North East of Scotland to add to what already is a historic golfing destination.”
Nature and golf in harmony
A commitment to preserving and working with the natural environment lies at the heart of the project. From the earliest design stages, the team has worked diligently to ensure the course integrates seamlessly with the land’s existing features, including an innovative freshwater and drainage system which utilises wetlands and ponds to sustainably irrigate all 36 holes.
The natural landscape has been further nurtured through the planting of more than one million sprigs of native marram grass and the translocation of over 10 hectares of indigenous vegetation. These efforts have created new wildlife habitats and allowed the region’s biodiversity to flourish.
Clare Barber, Principal Director at Fairhurst, the project’s engineering firm, emphasised the importance of the course’s environmental harmony: “Given the outstanding ecological and geomorphological setting of the site, our priority has been to provide engineering solutions which do not just meet the minimum standards, but enhance the natural landscape, with a particular focus on the water environment and biodiversity.”
This project has set a new benchmark for the translocation of indigenous grasses and habitats, resulting in two links courses that blend seamlessly with their surroundings.
A career highlight for industry experts
Esie O’Mahoney, principal contractor at Golflink Evolve, shared his excitement about the project: “Over my thirty years’ experience in the industry, this is by far the most environmentally friendly and sustainable golf project we have ever worked on. This course has been built with the utmost respect for the environment. We have harvested and sourced almost all of the materials from the land itself and developed an energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable water system that supports both championship courses for the future.”
With the completion of this course, Trump Golf Scotland is cementing its place in golf history. Robert Maxfield, Chief Executive Officer of the Professional Golfers’ Association, summed up the project’s significance perfectly: “This could be one of the last great modern links to be built in Scotland. Every golf facility The Trump Organisation builds is world-class, and this could be their finest hour. This course is an absolute gift to the game of golf, and I am pleased the course will be accessible and open to all.”
In 2025, the world will see the grand unveiling of what could be Scotland’s next great golfing masterpiece, further cementing the country’s rich sporting heritage. With a steadfast commitment to sustainability, respect for its natural environment, and promise of unrivalled golfing experiences, Trump International’s new Aberdeen links course is poised to become a landmark destination for golf enthusiasts worldwide.
