Residents fear Dunhill will bring few benefits

The Courier, 11 October 2001

It has been billed as a celebration of links golf played over three of the most spectacular courses in the world - a 72-hole stroke-play tournament which will play an important part in promoting Scotland and the beauty of the east coast.

But concern was expressed yesterday that the inaugural £3.5 million Dunhill Links Championship, being held next week, will bring few benefits to villagers living just a chip shot away from the latest addition to the links’ circuit, the Kingsbarns Golf Links.

Far from boosting tourism, it was claimed the "main mission" of the tournament was purely to promote Dunhill branded products - including cigarettes; to boost private trade for the Kingsbarns Golf Links - with few local spin-offs - and to promote the private interests of corporate golf.

The conclusion has been reached by several residents in Kingsbarns who said the use of three separate venues was not spectator-friendly, and as a result, they were "not surprised" to read in Saturday’s Courier that ticket outlets had reported little public interest to date.

Concern has been expressed over disruption which will be caused for the duration of the tournament with parking restrictions set to operate along one side of Main Street and the road to Kingsbarns beach, which crosses the Kingsbarns course, set to be closed.

The organisers, IMG, say this is in the "interests of safety and security." But with Kingsbarns having recently reported no ticket sales at all, some locals fear these moves could actually have a negative impact on tourism during the school holidays and penalise local businesses. Concern has also been expressed over the lack of early public consultation.

Yesterday, as it emerged that the organisers had offered all Kingsbarns households two free tickets to "join in the excitement" of the tournament - a move which the community council denied was a "bribe" - questions were also being raised as to why the organisers had also wanted to close the coastal path - an application which subsequently failed as it would be in breach of course planning conditions [the relevant conditions are 6 (original route) and 7 (alternative routes)].

One Kingsbarns resident, Nick Lunan, told The Courier, "I am particularly concerned over these issues of access, the fact that businesses might suffer and the connection here with tobacco advertising at a time when the Scottish Executive might be considering a ban on tobacco advertising.

"I get the impression that the public is welcome, but that IMG are not going out of their way to fill the galleries with travelling spectators. I am in favour of the Kingsbarns course but it seems the tournament is bringing more benefits to the companies behind the tournament than it is to us."

Kingsbarns Community Council chairman Kate Holy was less critical, however. She would have preferred it if the community had been consulted before various decisions were made involving Fife Council. However, she said subsequent discussions had been helpful and she hoped there would be improvements next year.

Yesterday no one was available at the Dunhill offices in London for comment on the arrangements.

However, the organisers have outlined the situation in a letter sent to every household in Kingsbarns last week. IMG spokesman Ross Hallett said that, while organisers were very aware of the impact the tournament might have, he said they were doing their "very best" to ensure that any inconvenience is kept to an absolute minimum.

He said, nevertheless, that disruption was inevitable and for security and safety reasons, Back Stile, leading to the beach, will be closed to vehicles from October 15 to 20. Police, he said, would also be placing no parking cones along Main Street from October 17 to 20.

Full text of the letter on which this article was based can be found here

Further useful information:

coastal path safety, quality and access statement from the developer
an examination of coastal path access and safety issues
Ramblers' Association concerns regarding coastal path