ENVIRONMENTAL activists have vowed to thwart Donald Trump’s ambition to host golf’s most prestigious events at his £1 billion Aberdeenshire course.

The tycoon was granted permission for his golf complex last week despite concerns it will destroy ancient sand dunes and interfere with local plants and animals.

He has set his sights on attracting the British Open, one of the country’s oldest golf tournaments, which would raise the kudos of his resort and generate tens of millions of pounds in ticket sales. Other lucrative events he will bid for include the Ryder Cup, the biennial event that pitches America against Europe.

However, environmental groups say they will mount a sustained campaign to scupper Trump’s plans. Tactics will include lobbying the organisers of major events to freeze Trump out on the grounds his resort is environmentally damaging.

A barrage of negative publicity would be guaranteed should the Open — or any other major event — be staged at the Menie estate.

Club members will also be approached on fairways and tees and informed of the impact of the course on the environment.

A number of groups that have opposed Trump’s resort — including the Ramblers’ Association, the RSPB, the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the John Muir Trust — are expected to discuss tactics in the coming weeks.

The resort is due to open in 2011 and will consist of two championship courses, a five-star hotel and about 950 holiday homes.

“We accept that the course is going ahead, but far from being the world’s best, it will be one of the most destructive and we expect to make that point at every available opportunity,” said Dave Morris from the Ramblers’ Association.

The Open is one of the most lucrative competitions in golf, attracting about 200,000 visitors to the host venue during the four-day event and generating more than £70m for the local economy.

Fourteen different golf courses have hosted the championship since it was first held at Prestwick, on the west coast of Scotland, in 1860: seven in Scotland, six in England, one in Northern Ireland.

The venues for the championship have already been decided until 2012 and include Turnberry, St Andrews, Royal St George’s and Royal Lytham and St Annes.

However, leading figures in golf believe Trump’s course will need time to “bed in” and prove itself as a worthy venue before it is seriously considered as an Open venue.

“It will be a long time before the British Open goes to a new venue because of the established golf courses that hold it and the history of the event,” said DJ Russell, a leading golf course designer.

“I would be astounded if the Open was considered at Trump’s course within the next 20 years.”

Malcolm Booth, spokesman for the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St Andrews, which runs the Open, said: “Trump has contacted us in the past to discuss this. He was told then as now that once the course is built it would be considered in much the same way as any other venue. But it would take a certain amount of time for the course to become a seasoned championship venue.”

Last week, George Sorial, one of Trump’s closest confidants, said their proposal would be sensitive to the environment. “Disgruntled activists must recognise that the due process has been fully upheld,” he said.

“[We] will work with credible bodies, such as the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage, to ensure the numerous environmental conditions are satisfied and exceeded. Those who work against us now will only be seeking the global platform that the Trump name accords.”

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