I’ve just read about a few new projects underway in Scotland, and I’m not sure the country needs, nor can they support, three new courses.
The one, a second Trump course just north of Aberdeen. His first course “the best in the world” will be joined by a second on the southern end of his dune-property. Will it also be “the best in the world”? Trump recently threatened to stop the project if off-shore wind generators were built, apparently he’s won another battle and the windmills won’t happen.
The second course, designed by Darren Clarke, is in Carnoustie. His “Angus Course” will be a part of a new resort, managed by Wyndham. I’m not sure they need another course and another resort, only Americans will stay in the resort, and Americans will not play a new course, when they travel that far it’s to play the classic Carnastie Course. Carnoustie is a superb course, and you’d have to make the new one ten times as good to get players.
The third course, a luxurious Australian course, is to built on the island of Jura. I can’t imagine how it will be supported (or built). Askernish, a new Old Tom Morris Course has recently opened in the islands, and they certainly have no rush for t-times. Loch Lomond is the last luxury course built in Scotland, and even with a PGA event and tons of US cash, it was taken over by the Bank. It’s a tough time to build new courses, especially in Scotland (or Toronto) where the old courses are so friggin good!