They're Back! Trump Can't Let Go Of Scottish Wind Farm Views

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It was last December that Donald Trump, then just a presidential candidate, lost his court battle to stop unsightly wind farms from being erected off the coast of Trump International in Aberdeen.

The loss prompted a real, live manspat between Trump and his one-time good buddy, former first minister Alex Salmond.

But the Trump Organisation hit back at Salmond in a pointed and characteristically colourful statement: “Does anyone care what this man thinks? He’s a hasbeen and totally irrelevant. The fact that he doesn’t even know what’s going on in his own constituency says it all ... He should go back to doing what he does best: unveiling pompous portraits of himself that pander to his already overinflated ego.”

Fast forward almost a year and president-elect Trump is holding meetings with a wide range of possible cabinet members and world leaders at Trump Tower. Including a meeting where he just couldn't pass up multiple chances to bend the ear of a British politician about...the wind farms. Caroline Wheeler reports for The Express.

Andy Whigmore, who was present at the meeting with Mr Trump, said: “We covered a lot of ground during the hour-long meeting we had.

“But one thing Mr Trump kept returning to was the issue of wind farms. He is a complete Anglophile and also absolutely adores Scotland which he thinks is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. But he is dismayed that his beloved Scotland has become over-run with ugly wind farms which he believes are a blight on the stunning landscape.”

EU’s communication’s chief added: “It is clear that it is an issue he is very passionate about and not because he is against renewable energy or green technology but because he genuinely thinks wind farms are damaging Scotland’s bountiful natural beauty.”

At issue should be the proximity of the farms to the coasts, as Trump is correct in lamenting their placement.  Check out this depiction, accompanying this Herald story. I'm not sure about the 1 mile from the coast claim (11-12 is the number I recall, but correct me if I'm wrong please).

Either way, as Danny Hakim and Eric Lipton of the New York Times note, the greater issue involves using his president-elect status to possibly improve business conditions for the Trump Organization.

Mr. Trump and his family’s blending of business and political interests and appearances have received increasing scrutiny during the transition. Since the election, he has met with Indian business partners and his new Washington hotel has become a destination for diplomats. His daughter Ivanka, an executive in the Trump Organization, sat in on a meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, and her jewelry company promoted a $10,800 bracelet she wore during a postelection appearance with her father on “60 Minutes.”

Separately, one of Argentina’s most influential television programs reported on Sunday that during a congratulations call from President Mauricio Macri of Argentina after the election, Mr. Trump asked for Mr. Macri’s support for a project to build an office tower in Buenos Aires.

President-elect Trump responded to the news on Twitter.

Slow Play Files: McGladrey Monday Playoff Edition

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Because 2016 apparently never wants to end, the last fall PGA Tour event will continue a sudden death playoff on Monday morning after failing to finish Sunday night. While two holes of sudden death were played and frankly, based on the number of mentions by all about the darkness, the second hole probably should not have been played.

Most telling was Rich Lerner's mention from the booth that the final round threesomes took five hours on what appeared to be an almost wind-free, crisp fall day at St. Simons Island.

If the Golden Bear had been watching, and he almost surely wasn't, but Jack Nicklaus would have heard that number and said, I just talked at the PGA annual meeting about 5 hours as the death knell for our sport.

Yet on Sunday there was Tim Finchem's vision at its most glaringly tired: players seemingly in slow motion, lacking any fear of penalty, taking their sweet time even as the sun was setting. But all was well because hats came off and hands were shaken to reaffirm that this was a (slow) genteman's game. While this provides a the visual that stirs the souls of Finchem's favorite corporate chieftains, it doesn't move a single sports needle and scenes like this reaffirm that golf is for only those with enough free time to return on a Monday morning.

So the RSM Classic wraps up a day late, minus Billy Horschel, who served up a short putt miss he refused to attribute to the dark playing conditions.

Sean Martin at PGATour.com with this from one of the four still in the playoff:

Hughes considered halting play instead of hitting his 11-foot birdie putt on the second extra hole. Norlander said he couldn’t see the hole once his caddie removed the flagstick. Play will resume at 8 a.m. Monday on the par-3 17th hole. They’ll return to the 18th again if the playoff continues."

“People don't know how dark it is right now,” Villegas said. “It's going to be nice and cold in the morning. We'll be back and try to take another trophy home.”

Here is the Horschel miss, for those who were watching something else (most of you)...

 

 

Tour Operator Offering All-Trump Golf Trip Including White House Meeting With President Trump

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Thanks to reader Mike for sending the link to a too-good-to-be-true golf trip that includes golf at all Trump Organization golf properties and President Trump welcoming "you personally during the 'Trump Presidential Challenge.'"

21 Days, 12 Rounds of Golf, 20 Nights, a tour of the White House and a drinks session with the president, all for $16,275!

Join us at this unique world class event and play all 12 Trump National and International Championship Courses in the United States. Endorsed by the US President-elect himself you will play golf in California, Florida, North Carolina, Washington D.C., New Jersey and New York. You will stay at Trump's most prestigious properties along the way. You will also enjoy the final round of the US PGA Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass and visit the World Golf Hall of Fame. US President Donald Trump will welcome you personally during the "Trump Presidential Challenge".

• 1 round at Trump International Golf Club, Palos, Verde (California)
• 1 round at Trump National Doral Blue Monster Course (Florida)
• 1 round at Trump International Golf Club, West Palm Beach (Florida)
• 1 round at Trump National Jupiter Golf Club, West Palm Beach (Florida)
• 1 round at Trump National Charlotte Golf Club (North Carolina)
• 1 round at Trump National Golf Club (Washington D.C.)
• 1 round at Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point (New York)
• 1 round at Trump National Philadelphia Golf Club (New Jersey)
• 1 round at Trump National Hudson Valley (New York)
• 1 round at Trump Bedminister International Golf Club (New Jersey)
• 1 round at Trump National Colts Neck Golf Club (New Jersey)
• 1 round at Trump National Westchester Golf Club (New York)
• Ticket for the final round of the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass
• Visit to the World Golf Hall of Fame
• All rounds in carts

Heaven forbid we'd make you walk!

• Use of all practice facilities including range balls
• Lunch at all golf days

Other Inclusions: 
• 20 nights 4 and 5-star Accommodation
• Daily Breakfast
• Welcome Cocktail at the Portofino Yacht Club Hotel, Palos Verde (California)
• Welcome Dinner at the Portofino Club Hotel, Palos Verde (California)
• Tour of The White House (Washington D.C.)
• Drinks with US President Donald Trump

Uh huh.

I've forwarded this to the Trump Organization for confirmation of the trip's validity. Given that they're working on a Secretary of State pick right now, it's hard to imagine they've locked the president in for a cocktail party in May. But stranger things have happened.

First Look From Above: New TPC Sawgrass 12th Hole

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Granted it's just a teaser and we'll no doubt get a much closer look at all the details in May, but the renovated 12th hole at TPC Sawgrass looks like a fun risk-reward short par-4.

A sound risk-reward blend is not normally Pete Dye's style--he tends to favor all risk holes--but he still narrates the video embed below. While we know he didn't write the script because of the hospitality enhancement mention, it's still good to hear he endorses the much-needed change to what was not an interesting hole.

Photo gallery here.

Peter Senior (57) Calls It A Career

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Not many 50-somethings have ever been able to remain relevant with the flatbellies, yet Peter Senior did so in spite of the game's power surge, even winning the 2015 Australian Masters at 56 (!).

Planning to call it a career at the Australian PGA Championship in a few weeks, Senior had to WD from the Australian Open he's won twice due to hip pain. Martin Blake reports on the ageless golfer finally experiencing father time catch up to a career that included 34 worldwide wins.

"It's a tough pill to swallow. The last two years, I've had that many injuries. I'm just sick of it. It's a game you can't play with injuries. I've had a great run, a great career. I've enjoyed every minute of it. People have been fantastic, you just can't play like that. I don't enjoy playing like this. I can't hit a shot. Every time I hit the ball I get a bolt of pain through my hip.''

Senior gave this interview after withdrawing from the Open.