The Scottish Wildlife Trust has written to the professional golfers who will open Donald Trump’s golf resort in Aberdeenshire, asking them to boycott the holes most damaging to the spectacular sand dune system there.

Along with a host of other concerned environmental bodies and local people, the Trust fought against Trump’s course at the Menie Estate near Balmedie, which has destroyed large parts of the nationally important Foveran Links Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The Trust has written to Colin Montgomerie, Paul Lawrie and Martin Laird, who will tee off on Tuesday, asking them to boycott those holes within the SSSI.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Director of Conservation, Jonny Hughes, who gave scientific evidence at the Public Inquiry held over the controversial development, said:

“We have written to Colin Montgomerie, Paul Lawrie and Martin Laird asking them to protect the reputation of golf by sending a clear message that environmentally destructive golf course projects such as Trump's should have no place in Scotland.

“Golf and the environment can go hand in hand and we believe golfers have a vital role in championing environmentally sustainable course design and management. The collective voices of Messrs Montgomerie, Laurie and Laird could make a huge difference and we are urging them to do the right thing, for the sake of both golf and the environment.”

Click here to read the Trust's letter to Colin Montgomerie in full.