Yet another golf plan for St Andrews

The Courier, 20 November 1998

St Andrews has been targeted for another multi-million-pound golf and leisure development which would help satisfy the ever-growing demand from the USA.

It has been revealed that plans are in the pipeline for a complex of two new courses, a golf academy, clubhouse, leisure centre and accommodation on a site just south of the town.

Behind the venture is the Carnoustie-based St Andrews International Golf Club. It wishes to develop land at Scooniehill Farm, which lies between the St Andrews to Anstruther road and the main coast road.

The company has been in discussion with council officials, and has written to councillors and to St Andrews Community Council.

The letter has been signed by the secretary of St Andrews International Golf Club, Mr Alistair Doig, who said that he and his colleagues had read with interest the recent Press comments and letters about submissions for developments in and around St Andrews.

He said the club’s parent company would soon submit an application for outline planning permission, and he believed it was “fair and reasonable” that the proposals should be aired at this time.

“We sincerely believe that we can create a discreet club complex of high architectural quality and attractive visual amenity,” continued Mr Doig.

“To this end we and our consultants have had meetings with Fife Council planning officials to ascertain as fully as possible the diverse conditions, restrictions and other requirements which are likely to have to be satisfied.

“We have ensured that all the emerging points have been complied with as the design plans have developed.”

Mr Doig said the amenity would to a significant extent answer the growing worldwide demand or access to courses at St Andrews. He believed the work could be done in a manner which would assist in meeting the difficult problem of trying to preserve St Andrews and its environs in the face of growing numbers of visiting golfers and tourists.

“We are in no doubt that the development will bring significant socio-economic benefits to St Andrews, both in terms of direct employment, estimated at 80 full-time equivalent employees, and of indirect employment through member spend,” said Mr Doig.

“Accordingly, most businesses in the area should enjoy a good spin-off benefit from the development.”

Last night St Andrews West and Strathkinness councillor Frances Melville said she had asked planning officials to arrange a meeting with the developers.

“This is the first formal contact I have had, and I hope that the developers will consult with all interested parties at every stage. This is yet another major scheme for the town,” she said.

The plans come at a time when St Andrews is in the news over another multi-million-pound golf and hotel development planned for prime farmland on the coast to the east of Kingask.

The scheme has run into considerable opposition due to its proposed scale and is to be the subject of a special hearing in St Andrews next week.

The hearing - essentially a session of the council’s east area development committee - will hear from objectors and applicants, but no decisions will be made.

A full report and recommendation on the Kingask proposals will be submitted to a future meeting of the development committee.