Work on Trump golf course to begin Nov. 1

ABERDEEN, Scotland, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- U.S. developer Donald Trump announced Friday work on his proposed championship golf course in Scotland is to begin Nov. 1.

The course near Aberdeen is to be the centerpiece of a 1 billion- pound ($1.7 billion) luxury resort. The Trump Organization said the start date depends on getting final approval for the project from the Aberdeenshire Council.

The Menie Estates development is to include two golf courses, including one Trump has said would be the world's best, a hotel, 500 houses and 950 vacation homes.

The council initially rejected Trump's plans but was overruled by the Scottish government. Environmentalists say part of one course will be built on fragile sand dunes, while some local residents and officials said the project was out of scale in an area of historic golf courses like the Old Course at St. Andrew's.

A second council review of the project is to begin in the fall.