Golf gulf widens over new course

The Courier, 15 August 2003

Differences in emphasis between the golf operations of St Andrews Links Trust and other commercial ventures in the area have been highlighted by the body as debate continues about the proposed new seventh course for the town.

Spokesman Peter Mason said yesterday that the trust had to look to the “longterm best interests” of local and visiting golfers, while other operators might have to take more account of short-term fluctuations in the market.

In addition, he said, the trust must act in a way which reflects its “central role” in Scotland’s golf tourism industry.

He was speaking in the wake of questions being raised about the need for another public course at a time when visitor numbers are down on previous years.

There have also been calls from representatives of two commercially-run operations, the Duke’s Course and Kingsbarns, for an economic impact study to be provided as part of the planning process relating to the new course.

The trust has steadfastly maintained that the main reason for the new course is to satisfy local demand for tee times. Mr Mason said that there had been a rise in rounds played, and that the rise in applications for yearly links tickets has been even faster.

This trend, he said, is in line with predictions made five years ago, and it increases the potential for local play even further.

“This is happening despite the trust imposing imposing caps in several categories of yearly ticket - cabs which have led to over 350 people on our growing waiting lists."

Mr Mason said that people financing developments such as the Duke’s Course and Kingsbarns may be more susceptible to current short-term fluctuations and take a shorter-term view.

“I can’t understand why commercial course owners are so against another course for the golfers of St Andrews,” he said.