Supporting Sustainable Aberdeenshire - No to Trump

Menie Not Money

It's All About Golf - Have they got it right?

What about the "Open" - the big event which is going to draw the eyes of world to Balmedie, and persuade golfers that this a classic world-class links site? I don't know much about golf, but I do know about the harr, and that it will almost certainly mean that there will never be an Open at Menie.

A lot of places on the east coast have sea-fog but the Menie haar is particularly ferocious. Any inhabitant on the coast north of Balmedie knows that sinking feeling when, after a sweltering day in the Aberdeen office, you are heading home (ready for the cool glass and hot barbeque sauce). As you pass Balmedie, there in front of you lies the thick grey mist which has you switching on your lights and hoping it is a bit clearer up the coast. If you live at Menie, your dreams of barbeques are ended, as your back garden is dreary and mist shrouded and you temporarily curse the day you moved to the coast. Those who live 5 miles inland are meantime roasting on their lawns.

But after all, who cares about a bit of haar - its only a few times a year when that special combination of warm moist air combines with a cold sea.

Cancelling the family barbeque is no big deal, but lets do a little bit of business risk assessment. Imagine you are the organiser of a really major sporting event, with the big money coming from television coverage.

Trump International come to you and make a compelling case that they've got this golf course that's great and the facilities are great and the parking, well its probably great too. So lots of reasons to come. So what are the threats to success? Terrorism? No. Civil strife? No

How about 3-4 days of serious fog where you are hardly going to be able to see the golfers, let alone the ball  (unless you are using infra red cameras.) How likely is it that to happen? Check with the Meteorological records, and you'll find that it happens often enough for it to be a quite unacceptable business risk, and a strong enough reason to scupper the Trump proposal for the 'Open'.