Work starts on Trump's Scottish golf course
LONDON — Building work began Thursday on US tycoon Donald Trump's luxury golf course in Scotland, the culmination of a four-year effort in the face of strong local opposition.
The one-billion-pound development on the coast in Aberdeenshire has progressed in fits and starts but the links finally won full planning permission Tuesday.
"Today my team will finally get to work and build the world's greatest golf course for Scotland and for the great game of golf," Trump said in a statement.
"We are building on the finest piece of land I have ever seen and we will turn it into a national jewel -- people will travel from around the world to play the course and experience its beauty."
The Scottish government gave its backing last year for the development -- which will include a hotel, 950 holiday apartments and 500 residential homes -- though planning permission is still needed for areas such as the clubhouse.
Edinburgh backed the project despite objections from residents, who say it will damage the local environment. Protesters say they have bought a strip of land in the middle of the estate to try to hold up the development.
The first phase of the work, which is expected to conclude in 2012, will include the creation of construction access routes, followed by the detailed shaping of the golf course.
Donald Trump’s Apprentice Returns This Fall
Donald Trump’s Hit TV Show, “The Apprentice” will begin this fall in the Thursday 10-11 p.m. ET timeslot. Thus the Apprentice will take the place of an hour long romantic comedy series called “Love Bites.” Love Bites will debut later in the year.
This will be a “non-celebrity” Apprentice according to an NBC announcement. The Apprentice has had success with Celebrity Apprentice competitions the last few seasons.
This season of “The Apprentice” will give a job to one of 16 contestants who have had a rough time during this current economic recession. There will be recent graduates who have had difficulty finding jobs as well as bright prospects who have lost their jobs.
Among the advisors will be returning Trump associates Donald Trump Jr, Ivanka Trump, and George Ross.