No decisions yet on golf prospects

The Courier, 6 March 2001

Golf courses at St Andrews remained closed beneath a thick blanket of melting snow yesterday but it remains to be seen if the world famous Links are to be officially shut down.

At the weekend, the Scottish Golf Union urged golfers “not to play at the present time” because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

The SGU said it was obviously keen to play its part in minimising the effects of the outbreak.

In view of people being advised to stay out of the countryside, the union said it would also be sensible for people to stay off golf courses, many of which border farm land.

But yesterday St Andrews Links Trust general manager Alan McGregor would not be drawn on whether this meant the St Andrews Links would be shut down as a matter of course once the snow went.

He said the trust would continue to follow SGU advice and guidelines.

However, he pointed out St Andrews was not in an infected area and noted that Scottish Executive advice was that no sporting events should be cancelled in parts of the country which were so far unaffected.

Mr McGregor said the links trust was taking the situation very seriously and would continue monitoring the issue.

But last night a St Andrews man said the links trust should be taking a “much more responsible approach” when it was considered that golfers travelled to the town from all over the country, and indeed the world, and could, theoretically, have come from an infected area, possibly bringing foot and mouth infection with them.

Meanwhile, Carnoustie Golf Course Links Management Committee will discuss the disease situation before taking a decision whether to open the course tomorrow.

The Carnoustie courses are also closed due to the recent snowfalls.

A spokesperson for the committee yesterday confirmed the topic would be discussed by the board.

“Nothing has been decided yet and the situation will be revisited by the committee before Wednesday,” he said.