Donald Trump told Scottish planning inspectors that his proposal to build a $1.96 billion golf resort on part of a nature reserve will give the birthplace of the sport its best course.

“There is nowhere in the world to compare with Aberdeenshire to build the greatest golf course in the world,” Mr. Trump said on the first day of a public inquiry into his plan for two championship courses in northeast Scotland. “It is the right property in the right location to realize this vision.”

Mr. Trump, 61, was the first witness to speak at the inquiry, which was ordered by the Scottish government after a committee of the local municipality rejected the proposals on environmental grounds. The project’s cost has risen by about 20%, or 30 million pounds, because of the delay in getting approval, Mr. Trump said in an interview. The inquiry is scheduled to end July 4.

The project, which encroaches onto a legally protected nature reserve, has pitted environmentalists and the government’s own advisers on conservation against local businesses and politicians who say it’s vital to the region’s economy.

With a 450-room luxury hotel, 950 short-term rental apartments, and 500 homes on the 1,400-acre Menie Estate about 10 miles north of Aberdeen, the development is of national importance, the government said December 5. It is expected to create about 1,200 jobs and take 10 years to complete. The added expenses come from the rising costs of oil and materials, Mr. Trump said after giving evidence.

Mr. Trump would drop his plan to build a championship course in Scotland should the application be rejected, he said yesterday.

“I would withdraw this development because it would not and could not fulfill my vision of doing something truly outstanding, truly great,” he said, reiterating earlier statements. “If people are going to do Scotland a tremendous disservice by not wanting this, I won’t have it, someone else will have the land.”

The construction of the golf courses would go ahead even if economic conditions meant the housing element had to be delayed, Mr. Trump told the inspectors. Building the golf courses was dependent on planning consent for the housing as the return on investment on the golf courses alone would not be high enough, he said.

“It is a high-risk project,” Mr. Trump said. “There are not many people who can afford to do this particular development. The banks are all down the tubes, and I am using my own money.”