A world-leading golf course’s attempt to boost its “wow factor” is putting walkers and beach-goers at risk of serious injury, it is claimed.
Kingsbarns Golf Links is to reposition three tees in a bid to increase the attraction of its coastal setting and maintain its global ranking in the top 100 courses.
It argues the changes will improve visibility for golfers and walkers and take advantage of the spectacular vista for tourist golfers.
However, the local community council is extremely worried that people on the nearby Fife Coastal Path and beach will be at greater risk of being hit and injured by stray balls.
Community councillors also fear signs to be erected warning of the hazard will put people off using the popular tourist attractions.
Kate Holy, Kingsbarns Community Council’s planning convener, said: “If you get hit by a golf ball full force on the head you aren’t going to come out of it well.”
The 18-hole course, which opened in 2000, regularly hosts the Dunhill Links Championship and is highly rated by some of the world’s best players including Rory McIlroy and Colin Montgomerie.
It was given planning permission last week by Fife Council to create three new tees at holes three, 16 and 17 and reposition its third green.
One objector said he recently witnessed a ball land with considerable force 10 metres from a family on the beach and argued the relocation would make such incidents more common.
Ms Holy said the new layout was the original one proposed in 1997 which was regarded as unsafe and revised.
She said: “In 16 years, as far as we are aware, no one has been injured.
“Our main concern is that previously there was separation between golfers and walkers but now there will have to be this negotiation between them.”
She also said there was the potential for new signs warning that golf is being played nearby to deter visitors.
She said: “There has been no signage at all for the past 16 years. It will be interesting to see whether visitor numbers drop to the beach or coastal path.”
In a letter to Fife Council the community council said: “We feel that the changes to be made will certainly threaten both the safety of walkers on the coastal path and users of Kingsbarns Beach, and this would do nothing to enhance the reputation of Kingsbarns Golf Links.”
However, Kingsbarns Golf Links chief executive Alan Hogg said bringing the tee boxes closer to the coastline would benefit both golfers and walkers.
He said: “We are always looking for ways to improve our product and enhance the golfer experience.
“Although we utilise the coastline extremely well there are still a couple of areas where we feel it is possible to improve on what we have.
“At the same time we have to be aware of the safety issues between golfers and walkers and as far as I am concerned we have a win-win situation.
“We get a more spectacular tee off area and we create total visibility between golfer and walker.”
Mounds were created to protect walkers but Mr Hogg said they actually create a greater risk as they block visibility but not errant shots and this issue would be addressed with the relocation.
