The applicant behind a £20 million golf course and clubhouse near St Andrews is “incredulous” after learning that bosses at the Home of Golf have applied to register the name of “St Andrews” as a trademark to stop outsiders cashing in on its reputation.
Ewan McKay, director of St Andrews International Golf Club which is working on a major golf development at Feddinch, believes it is “simply farcical” and “arrogant” if the St Andrews Links Trust (SALT) thinks it can claim credit alone for the renown of St Andrews.
He confirmed that his company, which recently won a legal tussle with the Links Trust over the use of two website addresses, will object to the trademark bid.
Mr McKay fears the right for the company to use the name ‘St Andrews’ could be in jeopardy if the Links Trust gets its way.
Mr McKay told The Courier: “Their arrogance in thinking that the renown of St Andrews is mainly due to the Links Trust is simply farcical.”
Mr McKay was one of a large number of St Andrews business people who held a private meeting in The Scores Hotel on Tuesday to discuss their concerns and the way forward.
The Courier understands that representatives from the meeting will now request to meet St Andrews Links Trust representatives next week to seek clarification of the Trust’s actions and their intentions over the use of St Andrews trademarks. The St Andrews Links Trust stressed this was a trademark for golf.
A spokesman said: “Nobody in the town is under any threat for their use of the St Andrews name.
“However, a number of individuals and businesses, both in Scotland and beyond, were using our intellectual property without permission and in order to protect our commercial interests, we began this programme of trademark and brand protection.”