Gordon Berry, The Courier, 31 March 1999

The hopes of developers who want to use the “carrot” of the St Andrews Links to bring thousands of visitors to new luxury developments could be dashed if startling but informed predictions made in the town yesterday prove to be correct.

The administrators of the links have now clearly stated that all of the courses are already working at near capacity and there is no chance of additional hotel guests and conference delegates playing on the Old Course.

This stark fact was made clear by St Andrews Links Trust as the point was made locally that balance of the rights of local residents, and visitors wishing to play the links, had to be maintained as pressures from major developers increased.

Also emphasising the same point yesterday were local councillor Frances Melville, who is also a links trustee, and Donald Macgregor, chairman of St Andrews Community Council and an Independent MSP candidate.

Mrs Melville said there was now a “perception of deep mistrust” in St Andrews over developments in Fife Council as plans for new developments emerge. Mr Macgregor said that as the town was being “assailed” by a series of planning applications, he had fears for its preservation.

The fact that pressure on the Old Course had already reached saturation point was made yesterday by Peter Mason, the external relations manager of St Andrews Links Trust.

He pointed out that there was little chance of executives or conference delegates coming to stay at any of the planned new developments being able to fit into a system where every available tee time was already committed.

Councillor Melville said the point had been forgotten in the “unprecedented onslaught” from developers wishing to attract overseas visitors that the only reason many people came to St Andrews was to play a round on the Old Course and at present booking was about a year ahead.

“A lot of work has been done by the Links Trust on looking at course capacity and it is reaching the stage where bookings could have to be made two or three years ahead. This will kill one of the factors that brings people here in the first place. We are not against development, but it has to be done in a constructive, sustainable manner we can cope with.”

The comments have been made in the wake of a heavily criticised block vote decision by Fife's administration councillors to call major applications into the central strategic development committee.

At the moment plans are in the pipeline for a massive development at Feddinch, a £50 million scheme at Kingask and another £18 million project at Scooniehill.

Mr Macgregor said a number of people had asked why so many applications were being made just now. Whatever the reason, he said, there must be some doubt as to how many golf courses can be sustained within a three or four mile radius of St Andrews.

The main reason for most golfing visitors coming to St Andrews, at least from overseas, said Mr Macgregor, was a desire to play the Old Course. “This is a carrot being dangled in front of potential customers and it is just not feasible because the Old Course has a capacity that has just about been reached already. I don’t see how we can satisfy that sort of demand.

“From the point of view of local people it is essential that the provisions of the Links Act be maintained and that the present balance of resident and visitor rights is adhered to.”

Mr Mason yesterday confirmed that the Old Course was full and there was just no more capacity available for extra play.

“We have had a working party, of which Councillor Melville was a member, operating most of last year to look at the capacity of the links in total. We concluded that nothing could be done to give significant impact in terms of expanding the links except to look at opening a new golf course ourselves.

“If any of these new developments and courses come to fruition it will only increase the pressure on the links courses. Our experience is that Americans in particular come to St Andrews to play on the links courses, especially the Old Course.

“Under present arrangements the rights of residents of the town are protected and the trust is determined to ensure they remain protected.”