Trumped All Over

Filed in archive Golf Courses on November 26, 2007

Courtesy: Trump Golf

Michael Forbes was no one in particular until The Donald blew into his part of the world (see yesterday's post).

Trump is planning a massive and massively expensive golf resort in northeastern Scotland which could have a major impact on an environmentally sensitive area.

Michael Forbes is no environmentalist but he does own 23 acres of land (the "family farm") smack in the middle of Trump's project. And he's not selling.

The Scottish quarry worker has turned into an instant 'cause celebre' thanks to the internet and the speed of electronic communication.

He is receiving mail from all over the world telling him to stand firm and continue to be the David to Trump's Goliath.

But in the end, Forbes is not David; he is Don Quixote, tilting at windmills. While finding his stand admirable in an amusing kind of way, Trump's people have simply re-designed their plans slightly and bypassed Mr. Forbes' family farm. He already claims he's been cut off from direct access to the sea where he fishes for salmon (a claim disputed by the Trump corner who state he only caught one sample of the species all season) because Trump has bought up all the surrounding property.

However, even if he doesn't stop the project - and he won't - he has become a hero in the eyes of all the other "small people" in the world. Even golfers, I would daresay, can support his position.

Unfortunately, we live in an era where the Corporation is King. And, as far as Donald Trump goes, he's "in like Flynn" with the Scottish authorities. Heck, Scotland's First Minister, made him an honorary Ambassador for Scotland last year, charging him with spreading the word about the country.

Jack McConnell declared "this is a good bit of business for all concerned" after Trump accepted the mantle last April. At that time, Trump's 2 billion dollar golf project was well in the works.

The head of the Aberdeenshire Council's development management group, Raymond Reid, said on November 16th, "Environmental and economic development policies often sit uncomfortably side by side, but the tourism, investment and jobs created cannot be denied and are considered to be significant enough to set aside the environmental concerns."

There it is in a nutshell. All those in favor, say "Aye". The "ayes" have it and golf, a beautiful game that is nothing without a healthy, thriving environment, becomes the latest pawn in the game of global money and power.