Golf links path closure row

Michael Alexander, The Courier, 21 May 2002

A Fife golf course which has been showered with praise since it opened during the Millennium Open at St Andrews has been bunkered by a planning dispute over access to an ancient coastal path.

Kingsbarns Golf Links wants to temporarily close a section of the Fife coastal path when the Dunhill Links Championship - Britain’s richest golf event - returns to St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns on October 3-6.

Organisers say they want to close the path and an official alternative route where they pass Kingsbarns to protect coastal walkers from wayward golf bails.

Sound commercial reasons and a “minimal” security threat - heightened in the wake of September 11 - have also been cited amid concerns the public could gain access to the venue without a ticket.

But residents of Kingsbarns village, led by the community council, have strongly objected to this proposal, claiming that the path closure would deny access to a public right-of-way and could set a disturbing precedent.

Kingsbarns community council chairman Clare Wright said, “The footpath was not closed during the championship last year and no problem was caused by its being open as usual.

“It is deemed safe for walkers on the footpath when ordinary golfers are playing throughout the year. Why should it be less safe when better golfers are playing? Any additional safety concerns can be addressed by having marshals along the course.”

It was on November 28, 1997, that Fife Council’s East Area development committee granted planning permission for the Kingsbarns Links development, around six miles down the coast from St Andrews. After careful scrutiny on the part of Fife Council, permission was granted subject to certain conditions which included an agreement by the developer that the Fife coastal path, linking St Andrews with Crail, would remain “unobstructed at all times”. Details of an alternative route were also agreed.

The application for temporary footpath closure, due to come before today’s meeting of the Fife Council East Area development committee in Cupar, does not provide for any alternative route.

Seven letters of objection have been received by the council planning service. In his report to councillors today, planning official Chris Smith will recommend that the application be refused on grounds that “insufficient justification” has been put forward for a closure of the coastal route. He also expressed concern that no alternative temporary routes had been proposed by the applicant.

But Kingsbarns Links is standing by its application and is hopeful that councillors will appreciate their position.

In a letter to Fife Constabulary, Ross Hallett, a spokesman for IMG, which organises the Dunhill Links, said, “Walkers on the area of the coastal footpath adjoining the Kingsbarns golf course are in danger from wayward golf balls, as the path is within areas that we consider dangerous and which are roped-off to spectators.

“In many cases both players and walkers would be unaware of the presence of one another, therefore, increasing the potential hazard.”

Mr Hallett said that for sound commercial and security reasons, event organisers could also not permit the general public to gain access to the venue without proper accreditation. Organisers believe there is a “genuine case” that they put themselves at risk by leaving the site open to general access whether it be “minor” (vandalism, theft), “major” (a potential terrorist threat in the wake of September 11).

In reality, he said, this kind of threat was “minimal” but had to be considered.

Mr Hallett added, “One final point is that the Dunhill Links Championship has the largest prize fund on the European Tour.. .is broadcast live worldwide and therefore attracts worldwide attention. It is obvious, therefore, that both the above factors become even more relevant.”

It remains to be seen whether East Fife councillors agree.