DONALD Trump has claimed his Aberdeen golf course is “the greatest ever built” – despite being ranked 48th in a recent survey.
Golf World Magazine placed Aberdeen Golf Links far below a host of famous names – including St Andrews, Augusta National and the Royal Melbourne – in their ‘Top 100’ list.
But Trump, who currently has his sights set on US Presidency, said he is “disappointed” with the placing and even compared the other courses to “toys”.
In an interview with Golf Magazine, he said: “I’m disappointed, because it’s much more than that.
“My Aberdeen course, I believe, is the greatest course ever built.
“If you look at some of the courses – I won’t mention names because I have a lot of respect for some of the guys who do the work – and compare them to Aberdeen, they’re like toys.
“Sandy Jones, chief executive for the Professional Golfers Association in Europe, toured the course and said, ‘I have just walked the greatest golf course ever built.’
“Jones is a highly respected person. That’s the kind of reviews we got. It’s not 50. It’s No. 1.
“It blows away any course on your list – it’s not even a contest.”
The billionaire also made reference to his Los Angeles course – Trump National Golf Club – in the interview.
According to the magazine, he claims his LA course, which didn’t even make the Top 100 list, was better than Pebble Beach in California, ranked seventh in the world in 2013.
The magazine will reveal the full list today (Wednesday), with household names including St Andrews expected to come in the top ten.
Trump had to overcome several years of objections before he was able to open his 18-hole Scottish course in 2012.
National jewel
The championship course, now in its third full playing season and described by Trump as a “national jewel”, also boasts a five-star hotel.
For several years the golf enthusiast has been locked in a legal battle over a nearby offshore wind farm, which he claimed would ruin his course.
The 11-turbine scheme in Aberdeen Bay was given the go-ahead in 2013, but Trump argued that Scottish ministers had illegally agreed to license the plans.
However, senior judges ruled that Trump had no grounds for the accusations. He has since said he will launch an appeal with the UK Supreme Court.
