Royal Dornoch Golf Club manager revealed last week that John Prince had sent an e-mail informing the club that he could not possibly spend money in a country which freed a terrorist who had killed hundreds of people.

Concern is growing that more Americans could be inclined to follow Mr Prince's example.

Any boycott by the US could cost the UK economy billions. American travellers spend more money in this country than any other nation – about £2.2billion a year.

Scottish whisky could also suffer because America is the biggest market for exports, with sales worth more than £350million a year.

On the Boycott Scotland website, organisers proclaim: "Don't travel to Scotland or do business there (or in the United Kingdom in general) and don't buy any British or Scottish products."

The Northern Times has been in touch with Mr Prince in a bid to find out more about the strength of feelings in America against Scotland.

The 45-year-old, who lives in Washington State and works in aerospace manufacturing, says he has never been to Scotland before, although he has visited Ireland and the continent.

"I was planning a golfing vacation, kind of a "I have to go golfing in Scotland once in my lifetime' situation," he says.

"The trip was going to take place either in the summer of 2010 or at the latest, 2011. I was going to go with my best friend – who also happens to love golf and Scotch whisky.

"We were going to centre our activity around Royal Dornoch and spend our time golfing, eating salmon and drinking expensive Scotch. It seemed like a good time to me!"

However, the release on humanitarian grounds of the terminally ill Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi has infuriated Mr Prince and other Americans.

He says: "Because of the release of the terrorist and my impression that the Scottish people themselves overwhelmingly agreed that the release was proper, I no longer feel that I would want to go to Scotland.

"It just puts me off, the whole idea of spending a considerable amount of money travelling to a country that thinks so little of the terrorised, but so much of the terrorist.

"I should probably also mention that I've curtailed my consumption of Scotch. It's great whisky, but no longer for me. I've switched to Kentucky bourbon."

Mr Prince adds: "I should also tell you, and I hope this doesn't sound too obnoxious, that I don't have a problem with the government of Scotland and the people of Scotland doing as they please.

"Scotland should not be dictated to by the US or any other entity. They are free to make their own decisions. I am saying, though, that I also have the right to do as I please. And spending my money in Scotland no longer pleases me."

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