Climate change and erosion threat to Trump’s North-east golf course

Donald Trump’s five-star golf resort in Aberdeenshire may have to be shored up against the ravages of climate change and coastal erosion, a Scottish Government report has found.

The Trump International Golf Links are among several courses that were highlighted as being under threat in the Dynamic Coast: Scotland’s National Coastal Change Assessment study, published in August.

Other sites at risk include Montrose Golf Links, according to the study.

Mr Trump pulled the United States out of the Paris cli- mate agreement in June and has speculated that climate change caused by people might be a “hoax” made up by the Chinese.

The report said that despite warnings of erosion before the Trump course at Balmedie was built, the impact had twice damaged the third green since it opened five years ago.

The study said that had led to 200 metres of boulders being erected as protection.

The study added: “Small pockets of erosion are anticipated along the dune edge of the planned Trump golf course extension south from Menie. If this materialises then there may be a need for defences in the future.”

Other courses have also been affected, with the Royal Aberdeen, Murchar Golf course and Blackdog links around Aberdeen hit over the last 40 years.

The Dynamic Coast project used coastline data from the Ordnance Survey dating back to the 1890s to make the predictions for the next 30 years.

It found that at least £340 million of coastal assets, such as buildings, roads and railways, are at risk by 2050 if recent erosion continues.

However, this compares to more than £13 bn of assets being protected by beaches and dunes, and £5bn by built defences.