Course plans to be put to public

The Courier, 20 January 2003

Plans for the development of a new seventh golf course by St Andrews Links Trust to meet demand from around the world are likely to go out to public consultation in a matter of weeks.

Senior officials of the links’ administrators are making initial preparations to meet representatives of a host of local organisations to discuss proposals for the new 18-hole course on over 200 acres of farmland at Brownhills and Kinkell, to the south-east of the town.

The trust’s external relations manager Peter Mason said at the weekend that it was hoped to open discussions soon with relevant community councils, St Andrews Preservation Trust, local golf clubs, the Green Belt Forum, rights of ways groups and other interested parties.

He added, “Fife Council planners are working on what we will have to consider in the environmental impact study.

“Once that is available the trustees will be able to start the consultation process.

“This will allow local groups and other interested parties the opportunity to raise any concerns they may have in relation to the development plans.”

The environmental impact study is likely to consider transport issues, the proposed St Andrews green belt and rights of way and is one of the requirements of the planning process for the new golf course, which is proposed for land around a mile from the town centre.

Mr Mason said the purchase of the land is likely to be concluded by the end of next month.

He added that the seventh course is necessary due to the huge demand to play golf at St Andrews and would add to the six golf courses in St Andrews - five 18-hole and one nine-hole setup - already managed by the trust.

Last season the number of rounds played over the St Andrews links totalled 211,000, only 4000 less than the previous record figure in 2001, and the second highest on record.

Scottish-born golf course architect David McLay Kidd (34) has been commissioned by the trust to design the new course and was selected from a shortlist of six.

Among Mr Kidd’s recent projects have been the highly-acclaimed Bandon Dunes in Oregon, USA, recently chosen to host the 2007 US Mid-Amateur Championship, and the new Queenwood heathland course in Surrey.