Yellowstone Club World (St Andrews International Golf Club) News Archive

In March 2004, St Andrews International Golf Club gained planning approval for a private club for both UK and overseas members, on 244 acres of land at Feddinch, in countryside to the south of the town.

According to the planning application, the development will include an 18-hole golf course and a clubhouse complex - with 40 two-bedroomed suites, dining room and bar, and leisure facilities including a gym, swimming pool, sauna and jacuzzi. According to planning conditions, the entire clubhouse complex must be accommodated on the original steading footprint and £7m of 'committed funding' must be in place before work can start.

In August 2005, plans for the multi-million pound private golf and leisure complex took a step forward with news that the venture was to become part of one of the world’s exclusive membership organisations.

An association has been formed with Tim Blixseth, who owns the Yellowstone Club in Montana - apparently the world’s only private golf and ski community. The Yellowstone Club plans to provide its members with a further nine top class resort and golfing facilities throughout the world.

According to SIGC director Ewan McKay, “Members will be able to stay at The Yellowstone Club in Montana, a castle in England or Ireland, a villa in Tuscany, the new Feddinch private golf club at St Andrews, a golf club at Cabo San Lucas in Mexico, a fishing lodge in Alaska where members can fish for salmon on six remote rivers, and several other beach, spa and golfing facilities around the world.

“Tim aims to create the most exclusive resort club in the world, which will allow its members to enjoy the finest facilities available. Members will also benefit from entitlement to use the club’s luxurious yachts and fleet of private jets.”

The Feddinch complex will be developed under the name of Yellowstone Club World.

St Andrews International Golf Club originally appeared on the scene in 1998 with a proposal for development at Scooniehill. The Scottish Executive rejected that original proposal in 2001.

The developer revised his plans and in December 2002 submitted a new proposal for development at Feddinch (02/03453/EOPP). That 2002 Feddinch planning application stalled. Fife Council regarded the application as premature until new green belt boundaries are decided as part of the new local plan.

The developer appealed directly to the Scottish Executive for swift consideration of the 2002 proposal.

More recently, the developer 'resubmitted' an application with Fife Council (03/03525/EEIA).

The appeal was sisted by the appellants pending the outcome of the resubmitted application.

Note: these current Feddinch proposals are in no way related to the original Feddinch proposal for a massive golf-related leisure complex with 600 residential units (later withdrawn).

Timber tycoon developer now owns chunk of Idaho   more

Round Valley neighbors unhappy with clearcutting

The Idaho Statesman, 13 September 2005

Tim Blixseth, the new owner of 180,000 acres of Idaho timberland, says he wants to be a good neighbor

Mega-rich offered $10m 'timeshare'   more

Tony Allen-Mills, The Sunday Times, 28 August 2005

The property market may be wilting but there was good news last week for the owners of 50-bedroom castles. An American entrepreneur with $500m (£277m) to spend is looking for a landmark property for the world’s most exclusive travel club.

Resort developers launch ultra-exclusive clubs   more

Robert Frank, The Wall Street Journal, 26 August 2005

The race to build the most exclusive resort club has reached a new extreme: a $10 million membership fee.

Tee-off time for new golf complex   more

Gordon Berry, The Courier, 26 August 2005

The multi-million pound plans for a golf and leisure complex at Feddinch, near St Andrews, have taken a massive step forward with news that the venture is to become part of one of the world’s exclusive membership organisations.

Blixseth Goes Worldwide   more

Scott McMillion, Staff Writer, Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 25 August 2005

The Yellowstone Club is going worldwide, offering some of the priciest, most exclusive vacations on the globe for people who can afford it.

Detailed plans for course submitted   more

The Courier, 15 January 2005

Plans for a new multi-million pound golf and leisure development near St Andrews took another major step forwards yesterday as detailed plans for the golf course element of the scheme were submitted to Fife Council.

Course ‘a dream come true’ for golf champion   more

The Courier, 16 October 2004

The chance to design a championship standard golf course at St Andrews is a “dream come true”, former Open champion Tom Weiskopf told The Courier yesterday.

Green light for golf development access road   more

The Citizen, 8 October 2004

Plans to form an extra access on the A915 St Andrews to Largoward road for a proposed private golf course at Feddinch Mains have been voted in by councillors, despite road safety concerns.

Go-ahead for new Fife golf courses   more

Gordon Berry, The Courier, 31 March 2004

Tens of millions of pounds worth of new investment could soon be coming to St Andrews along with dozens of new jobs as a result of the approval of major planning applications relating to golf and leisure.

Mixed feelings over new golf course plan   more

Rosemary Dewar, The Citizen, 6 February 2004

Once bitten, twice shy, was the apparent feeling of councillors considering the pros and cons of a private golf course development proposed for the countryside on the outskirts of St Andrews.

Warning to golf developers   more

Michael Alexander, The Courier, 31 January 2004

The applicant behind a proposed new multi-million pound golf and leisure development near St Andrews has got a “sticky albatross called St Andrews Bay around its neck” and the situation will stay that way until councillors are satisfied transport problems experienced with that application are not repeated.

244-acre golf development under scrutiny   more

Gordon Berry, The Courier, 26 January 2004

Proposals for a new multi-million pound golf and leisure development near St Andrews will come under the public spotlight for the first time at a meeting in the small rural community of Cameron later this week.

Feddinch golf course plans re-submitted   more

The Citizen, 7 November 2003

Plans to construct a private golf course at Feddinch Mains, outside St Andrews have been re-submitted to Fife Council after the initial application was the subject of an appeal to the Scottish Executive.

Golf project takes new turn   more

The Courier, 7 November 2003

Developers behind plans for a multi-million pound golf and leisure project on a rural site near St Andrews have made another move in their bid to obtain planning consent.

Councillors back multi-million pound golf and leisure development    more

Gordon Berry, The Courier, 10 October 2003

The developers behind plans for a multi-million pound golf and leisure development near St Andrews have been given the backing of councillors as they continue their fight to obtain planning consent.

Council urged to defend appeal over golf plan   more

Gordon Berry, The Courier, 6 October 2003

Proposals for a multi-million-pound golf and leisure development on a rural site south-west of St Andrews would be “prejudicial” to the forthcoming consideration of the new green belt for the town, according to council officials. They have made it clear they want Fife Council to defend an appeal just lodged with the Scottish Executive in relation to a 244-acre site at Feddinch.

Golfing complex developer's Holyrood appeal   more

The Courier, 1 September 2003

The developer behind plans for a £15 million golf and leisure development to the south of St Andrews has taken the decision-making process out of the hands of Fife Council by lodging a direct appeal with the Scottish Executive.

Green belt fears over golf plans   more

Gordon Berry, The Courier, 3 February 2003

Planning approval for a major golf and leisure development at Feddinch Mains, near St Andrews, would result in a change in the landscape setting of the town.

Proposed clubhouse 'visible from town'   more

Michael Alexander, The Courier, 14 January 2003

A clubhouse, proposed as part of a major new golf and leisure development at Feddinch, southwest of St Andrews, would be “clearly visible” from the town, according to St Andrews Preservation Trust, which has expressed its “serious concern” to Fife Council over the £15 million project.

Fears raised about impact of golf plans   more

Gordon Berry, The Courier, 10 January 2003

Proposals for a major new golf and leisure development at Feddinch, to the south west of St Andrews, have failed to overcome problems of “impact on the countryside.”

£15m Fife golf development plan   more

Gordon Berry, The Courier, 30 October 2002

Development pressure on St Andrews intensified further yesterday as plans for a £15 million golf and leisure development were lodged with Fife Council.

Golf club plans cause concern   more

Tom Chadwick, The Citizen, 12 July 2002

Fresh plans for a 184 acre £15 million golf club development at Feddinch Mains, on the outskirts of St Andrews, are in the pipeline - but St Andrews Preservation Trust still have concerns.

Developers confident over golf project plans   more

The Courier, 8 July 2002

Developers behind the latest plans for a major golf and leisure development around St Andrews said yesterday that significant amendments had been made to the proposals in light of comments made by the local community council and other groups.

Views are sought over golf plan   more

Gordon Berry, The Courier, 29 November 2001

Developers behind the latest plans for major golf and leisure related development around St Andrews yesterday said that they had already acted on suggestions made by the local community council.

Honesty pledge by golf planners   more

Gordon Berry, The Courier, 24 November 2001

The developers behind the latest plans for a major golf and leisure related development at St Andrews have pledged that they will be open, honest, transparent and up-front as their proposals are debated locally.

Proposals for £25m golf complex unveiled   more

The Courier, 23 November 2001

New proposals for a multi-million pound golf and leisure complex development on the outskirts of St Andrews have been unveiled by St Andrews International Golf - nine months after its controversial plan for a £25 million golf scheme at nearby Scooniehill was turned down following a public inquiry.