New course could be created to meet demand on St Andrews Links

The Citizen, 30 October 1998

St Andrews Links Trustees are considering the creation of another 18 hole golf course as part of a plan to stave-off a looming crisis as play on the existing courses nears capacity.

The ever-increasing demand for times on the St Andrews courses was highlighted, on more than one occasion, at the St Andrews Links Trust’s annual public meeting in the town hall on Wednesday evening.

Alan McGregor, the Trust’s General Manager, told the meeting that despite record-breaking rainfall and the recession in Japan play on the Links to date was higher than the same period in 1997.

“Faced with new golf developments along the coast and a rising local population, both of which will only add to the demand to play the Links, the Trust has set up a working party to look at the capacity and population issues, said Mr McGregor.

Earlier this week the working party met with the Inter Clubs Liaison Committee when various options were discussed, from ideas to limit demand to suggestions for a complete new course.

“Most options to limit demand are likely to be cententious and not very successful. The option to expand capacity sufficiently to meet the forecast demand will involve investment in new facilities and this is still being examined,” added Mr McGrgeor.

The capacity and population problem was expanded on by Roly Jack, Chairman of the Links Management Committee, in response to public questions. He said that if current demand continues then in about three years virtually all of the times will be taken up.

Mr Jack pointed to a 30 per cent increase in the population of St Andrews since the Trust was established in 1974, and in the same period the student population more than doubled. “The way things are going St Andrews is going to increase and if we do nothing there is going to come a point where all those wanting to play golf are not going to get on the course,” said Mr Jack.

He stressed that whether the option was to limit the number of people playing, or to expand to meet the growing demand, no decisions would be taken without consulting the golfing residents of the St Andrews and the local clubs.