Donald Trump's Scottish golf courses lost more than £9million last year as US pressure group calls for probe into 'significant accounting discrepancies'

  • Donald Trump's Scottish golf courses lost more than £9million last year
  • US pressure group has called for probe into 'accounting discrepancies'
  • Trump International Golf Links has lost money for fourth year in a row
  • Turnberry made a loss of £8.4million for 2015, accounts revealed

Donald Trump's Scottish golf courses lost more than £9million last year, new figures have revealed.

The news of his losses at Turnberry and the Menie Estate came after a US pressure group called for a probe into allegations of 'accounting discrepancies' at his resorts.

His accounts reportedly reveal that Trump's golf courses did not pay any corporation tax in the UK because of their financial woes. 

The US presidential candidate opened the Trump International Golf Links, north of Aberdeen, in 2012 after a battle with campaigners over the protected sand dunes.

Donald Trump's Scottish golf courses lost more than £9million last year, new figures have revealed, pictured is the US presidential candidate on the Menie Estate in 2011

He promised to create 'the greatest golf course in the world' and spend up to £1billion on the development - creating 800 jobs in the process.

But company accounts reveal the resort has lost money for the fourth year in a row since Trump struck the first ball at the championship 18-hole golf course.

It made a loss of £1million last year compared to losses of £1.1million in 2014, £1.8million in 2013 and £1.7million in 2012. 

The business employed just 95 people during its fourth year of operations who were paid a total of £1.9million.

Trump bought the Menie estate, which lies on the east coast of Scotland in an area of great natural beauty overlooking the North Sea, for £7million in 2006.

Despite the fact that the estate had been designated a site of special scientific interest because of its shifting sand dunes, the bulldozers eventually moved.

Trump bought the Menie estate, which lies on the east coast of Scotland in an area of great natural beauty overlooking the North Sea, for £7million in 2006

Trump bought the Menie estate, which lies on the east coast of Scotland in an area of great natural beauty overlooking the North Sea, for £7million in 2006

His accounts show that Turnberry had a turnover of £11.4million but made a loss of £8.4million for 2015

His accounts show that Turnberry had a turnover of £11.4million but made a loss of £8.4million for 2015

The course eventually opened in 2012 following a lengthy planning battle and numerous protests from villagers in nearby Balmedie.

Hundreds also protested about the creation of his Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire after he purchased the property for £39.5million in 2014.

His accounts show that Turnberry had a turnover of £11.4million but made a loss of £8.4million for 2015.

The company said the loss was down to large-scale renovation and investments being made in the resort by the Trump Organisation.

Trump, 70, who is facing a storm over his sexual remarks about women, employed 337 people at Turnberry during the year who were paid a total of £6million in wages.

Despite the losses, the Republican Party nominee's representatives remain positive about the future of his investments in Scotland.

In his director report for the Menie Estate, the businessman's son Eric Trump said: 'Overall revenues in 2015 have increased 7.4 per cent compared to 2014, in spite of the economic downturn experienced in the North East of Scotland due to the collapse of the oil prices with over 100,000 redundancies in the oil and gas industry affecting every sector in the region.

'Looking forward, services will continue to expand and develop, with further capital investment planned.

Trump, 70, who is facing a storm over his sexual remarks about women, employed 337 people at Turnberry during the year who were paid a total of £6million in wages

Trump, 70, who is facing a storm over his sexual remarks about women, employed 337 people at Turnberry during the year who were paid a total of £6million in wages

'The property now offers pay-and-play golf and membership opportunities which will provide a robust business model going forward and help maintain revenue amid the current economic downturn.'

In his report for Turnberry, Mr Trump said: 'Turnover for the resort has reduced by 13 per cent from 2014 to 2015, as a result of the closure of the hotel and Ailsa course during the final quarter of 2015.

'Upon completion of the construction project, it is expected that revenue will increase as the property is re-established as an industry leading resort.

'The directors believe that the resort will return to profitability in the short to medium term.'

Last month, a US pressure group called for the accounts of Trump's two Scottish golf resorts to be investigated amid allegations of 'significant, widespread discrepancies'.

The company said the loss was down to large-scale renovation and investments being made in the Turnberry resort (pictured) by the Trump Organisation

The company said the loss was down to large-scale renovation and investments being made in the Turnberry resort (pictured) by the Trump Organisation

The American Democracy Legal Fund contacted the Department of Justice calling for an inquiry.

It claimed Trump had broken the Ethics in Government Act because of inconsistencies in the incomes reported at Turnberry and the Menie Estate. 

Accounts filed with the federal election commission in the States said Trump had an income of £3.3million from Menie.

But papers at Companies House in the UK show he made a loss of £1.1million on the resort in the year to December 2014.

Trump's Turnberry resort told the commission his income was £15.5million - but Companies House showed a £3.6million loss for 2014.

Brad Woodhouse of ADLF said there were 'significant, widespread discrepancies' and 'the numbers do not add up'.

Trump has said that the amounts he listed on his US filings were 'Euro projected future income.' 

DONALD TRUMP'S FAILED WIND FARM BATTLE IN SCOTLAND

Donald Trump lost three legal challenges to an offshore wind farm project close to one of his two Scottish golf resorts.

His most recent objection to the proposed 11-turbine European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre was rejected in December 2015.

The US presidential candidate repeatedly claimed the project will spoil the views from his highly-acclaimed Trump International Golf Links course north of Aberdeen.

He has been at war with the Scottish Government over the issue since ministers approved proposals for the scheme off the Aberdeenshire coast in 2013.

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