Historic documents dating back almost nine centuries could hold the key to the outcome of a legal battle being fought at the home of golf over use of the word ‘St Andrews’, The Courier can reveal.
The applicant behind a £25 million golf course and clubhouse under construction near the town was warned last month it faced legal action by golf bosses unless all mention of St Andrews is removed from its internationally-marketed development.
With the deadline for removal of the name ‘St Andrews’ having passed at 4pm on Friday, St Andrews International Golf Club (SIGC), which is developing an ambitious private golf course at Feddinch, three miles outside St Andrews, said that it was standing firm against what it regards as “unjust and quite ridiculous” demands by St Andrews Links Trust.
SIGC director Ewan McKay, an Angus businessman, said: We have taken counsel’s advice and are not prepared to adhere to their unjust and quite ridiculous demands so we are going to fight for our right to use the name St Andrews.
“We have records going back to 1178 which detail that Feddinch, when it was the home of Canon Roger of Feddinch, kinsman and supporter of John the Scot, Bishop of St Andrews, had a postal address of St Andrews and clearly that remains the same and it is interesting that former owners actually played for the town in the “town and gown” golf matches.”
A spokesman for St Andrews Links Trust said it had “nothing to report at present”. He added: “A two-week extension was asked for by agents acting on behalf of SIGC and has been granted by ourselves.”
SIGC was told “if an adequate and expedient resolution cannot be found, the trust … intend to raise legal action for passing off in the Court of Session.”
In legal letters received by SIGC, it was told “all references to St Andrews International should be abandoned” within a fortnight.