Opponents of Trump scheme cause £50,000

of damage at Menie Estate, Balmedie

FROM TODAY'S PRESS AND JOURNAL
By RYAN CRIGHTON
Donald Trump will step up security at his North-east estate after vandals caused £50,000 worth of damage.
Vechicles working at the Menie Estate, near Balmedie (12 miles north of Aberdeen) were broken into before wiring was cut and sand poured into their engines.
The cuplrits also ripped out almost 10,000 square feet of marram grass, and damaged almost 500ft of fencing.
Last night Sarah Malone, executive vice-president of Trump International - Scotland, said the organisation would review its security in the light of the incidents which took place over the weekend and on Monday.
She said: "Until now, the security has been adequate but obviously we are going to step it up now. The police spent a considerable amount of time at the site and they are investigating the matter."
About £5,000 worth of diesel supplies kept at the site was also destroyed after being contaminated with sugar.
Miss Maloned added: "It is a disgrace that there are people around us who are prepared to stoop to such callous acts of vandalism.
"Our aim is to enhance and develop the site, while others evidently seem intent upon destroying it. I am sure the people of Aberdeenshire will be disgusted by this.
Local councillor Rob Merson said: "There would appear to be little doubt that there has been a concerted attack on the plant and equipment which has amounted to deliberate sabotage.
"Given the nature and content of many of the E-mails received by Aberdeenshire councillors from objectors to the project over the last couple of years, we have always been aware of an unsavoury and antisocial element within the ranks of the objectors' campaign.
"I am sure that the majority of right-minded people - even those who may have opposed the development at the outset - would not wish to be associated with this type of behavour."

New Castle Course proves popular at St Andrews

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ST ANDREWS LINKS TRUST
A busy opening month for The Castle Course saw more than 4000 rounds of golf played at the new seventh course at St Andrews Links.
Both local and visiting golfers have been taking up times at the new clifftop lay-out leading to it being fully booked on many days. Since it opened for play on June 28 the course has drawn visitors from as far afield as Australia, Japan, Dubai and the USA.
The course, designed by young Scottish architect David McLay Kidd, has attracted widespread praise from the national and international golf and travel media and has already won a prestigious award for its outstanding conditioning.
With a large number of bookings already received for the remainder of its first season until October 31, the course has exceeded the expectations of St Andrews Links Trust, which manages and maintains The Castle Course and the six existing public courses in the town,including the famous Old Course.
Alan McGregor, general manager, said, “It has been an excellent first month of operation for The Castle Course and it has been pleasing to see so many local and visiting golfers enjoying the new addition to golf in St Andrews. Given the changeable weather it is even more remarkable that so many days have been fully booked.
“We have received much positive feedback from both local and visiting golfers which suggests that people have welcomed the opportunity to play golf on an exciting new course which offers some stunning vistas of St Andrews and out to the North Sea.”
The Castle Course has been named 2008 Turf Professional Project of the Year for the quality of the greenkeeping work which has gone into preparing the course for play. The award is decided by a panel which includes representatives from the Institute of Groundsmanship, the British Golf Greenkeepers’ Association and leading turfcare journalists.
Previous winners in this category include Ascot Racecourse and Lord's Crickect Ground. It has also been praised for its “truly exceptional” turf quality by the Sports Turf Research Institute.
The Castle Course has five tees on every hole to make it suitable for golfers of most abilities and features wide fairways and generous landing areas. The large undulating greens are pure fescue and are receptive to a variety of approach shots.
As well as adding to the golf offering in St Andrews, The Castle Course has brought economic benefits to the town, creating jobs for 40 people across the greenkeeping, reception, retail and food and beverage departments and helping to encourage visitors to stay longer and play more golf.
The Castle Course’s first season runs until October 31. Tee times can be booked by contacting Reservations on 0044 (0)1334 466666, by emailing reservations@standrews.org.uk or online at www.standrews.org.uk.

PAUL LAWRIE TO DESIGN NEW COURSE
AT BLAIRS COLLEGE

The Herald newspaper has revealed that Paul Lawrie is the "top professional golfer" who will design an 18-hole golf course as part of a £115m redevelopment of the Catholic seminary at Blairs College on the South Deeside Road, only a few miles from the Bridge of Dee, Aberdeen.
Lawrie lives at Bieldside which is across the River Dee on the North Deeside Road.
Developers the Muir Group are planning to turn the site into a hotel, conference and leisure centre.
Lawrie said: "I can see the Blairs Estates from my house and have long thought this would be the perfect site for my first signature golf course development.
"The golf course at Blairs has the potential to provide a wonderful asset for the north east as well as attracting visitors to the area.
"Having played on so many fabulous courses around the world, I have lots of ideas and am itching to get started on my first course design project."
The scheme to convert the former Catholic college will be funded by the construction of 280 new homes on the site.
About £5m will be spent on the course and clubhouse, which it is hoped will be open in five years.
Up to 1000 jobs are expected to be created.
Lawrie will be working with European Golf Design, a firm which upgraded Royal Lytham and St Annes for the Open in 2001.