Golf is rarely far from the headlines in Scotland and this time last year the financial troubles of the ultra exclusive Loch Lomond golf club overlooking the loch of that name and the controversy surrounding the golf course Donald Trump was proposing to build on the east coast of Scotland were well chronicled. Often they were not chronicled favourably.

This column for example, expressed concern at the way that Loch Lomond was a rich man's playground and had little if anything to do with what you might call the ordinary man's golf in Scotland. The Spike Bar said that the Trump venture was little more than a way of making money for the man himself under the cover of providing an outstanding links course in a country universally known as the home of golf.

"Go home, Mr Trump. Go home" were our parting words 12 months ago.

Both projects have survived the past year. "It is business as usual" Niall Flanagan, the President of Loch Lomond, said. "We are not in receivership. We are not bankrupt. There were uncertain times at the beginning of the year but 700 of 800 members have renewed their subscriptions, (which have risen by £500 to £3,750) and our directors are now running the club not the bank. They are saying to us: "get on with it. You have this amount of money. Don't make a mess of it."

Flanagan said that Lyle Anderson, the American and former owner, has made only two visits since January 2008, "and I have spoken to him only once in that time." Flanagan was reminded of how, almost 20 years ago, the golf club had been taken into the hands of a bank. "But it was different then. In 1989 they could barely cut the grass. The clubhouse was not finished. Now we are cutting our coat according to our cloth. The current model is a different project even to the one of a few years ago but it does work. I hope to present the membership with our plans for the future later this year or early next year."

Though there is little sign of activity at the Donald Trump International Golf Links at Balmedie, near Aberdeen, that does not mean that work has stopped, according to Neil Hobday, the project manager. "When we got outline planning permission last November we were given 40 conditions that have to be purified before we could put a shovel in the ground" Hobday said. "That is what we are doing now - trying to purify these conditions.

"We are not behind schedule though we are not ahead of it either. We are going through a transparent process. We are optimistic that we will be in the dirt in April 2010 and the opening date will be 2012.

"We have not been affected at all by the current economic situation," Hobday continued. "Mr Trump is in a strong cash situation. Everything has been paid for in cash. There is no mortgage on this project. I assure you Mr Trump is in an acquisition mode."

Though a friend made the valid point that Trump's project would be good news economically for a depressed part of the country, it did little to reduce one's feelings of concern at this project. Golf did not need another course in 2008, one, furthermore, set in an area of outstanding natural beauty much enjoyed by everyone. And it does not need one now, however on schedule it is and even though one year down the line, it looks more of a reality than it did.

No more, Sandy

With the Scottish Open taking place at Loch Lomond and the Open coming up next week, it is time for another Scottish hardy annual, namely Sandy Lyle having a whinge about being passed over for the Ryder Cup captaincy - again. Hearing Lyle say he was let down by the European Tour when selecting past and future Ryder Cup captains has become jarring to the ear. There is a long list of players poised to have a crack at the captaincy of Europe including Jose Maria Olazabal, Paul McGinley, Paul Lawrie, Darren Clarke, Thomas Bjorn, Lee Westwood and Padraig Harrington. If Lyle is to lead his continent in future, and the chances of that are very very slim, then the way he is carrying on at present is not doing him any good. Put a sock in it, Sandy.

Reformed character