Rumours of new golf course site

Gordon Berry, The Courier, 31 July 2002

The search by St Andrews Links Trust for a new golf course to supplement the existing links facilities has led to close examination of land near the coast at the eastern edge of the town.

This claim has been sweeping the town as it is confirmed that the trust had now “agreed the route forward” and has been discussing possible sources of funding for a new 18 hole course.

It has been suggested that very high on the list of possible sites is land in the Brownhills and Kinkell area, where landowners have been in discussion with trust officials.

In recent years pressure on the six existing courses has risen relentlessly and they have been operating at near capacity.

Although there has recently been a quieter visitor spell due to poor weather and the aftermath of the September 11 atrocity, local rounds take-up remains high and there appears to be no doubt that in the foreseeable future the overall upward trend will continue.

It had earlier been suggested that the trust was looking at a site in the vicinity of the existing courses, which are the Old, New, Jubilee, Eden, Strathtyrum and Balgove.

News about possible major new developments to the west of the town, however, may have ruled out this avenue and minutes of the trust’s management committee make it clear that the subject of the “seventh course" is never far from the agenda.

Last month general manager Alan McGregor provided a memo and another update on the situation and although details of the discussion have not been disclosed it is made clear that the trustees “agreed the route forward” and discussed possible funding sources.

No details about sites under consideration, or any preferred option, have yet been revealed but if the land to the east is to be developed it is likely to come under the control of any green belt agreed in the forthcoming plan.

Yesterday the chairman of the Green Belt Forum, Professor Terence Lee, said that he had “heard the rumour” but was not able to confirm whether it was true or not.

The chairman of the town’s preservation trust, Elizabeth Williams, said that she, too, had been aware of speculation about the land.

She said, however, that when the edge-of-town development at St Nicholas Farm had been approved planners had said this would be seen as the boundary.

“We hoped that what was said then would be the case,” she said.

Yesterday the trust’s external relations manager, Peter Mason, said the body had been in discussion with landowners for some time.

“We have made no secret of the fact that over the past three to four years we have been seeking land for an additional golf course because of the rising demand to play on these links, particularly from local golfers.

“We take our responsibility to provide golf for the residents of St Andrews very seriously.”

Mr Mason said that the trust wanted to develop as close as possible to St Andrews, and that several potential sites had been looked at.

As soon as there was something positive to say, an announcement would be made, he said.