The applicant behind a £25 million private golf course and clubhouse near St Andrews has spoken of his “excitement” as the vision of former Open champion Tom Weiskopf, who designed the course, begins to take shape.
In an exclusive interview with The Courier on a tour of the Feddinch site, St Andrews International Golf Club (SAIGC) director Ewan McKay, said the ambitious project is on course for a grand opening in summer 2016.
Work on the construction of the 18-hole golf course on the 245-acre former farmland site is well under way with the contours of fairways, greens and bunkers taking shape.
Mr McKay said: “SOL Golf Construction started work on the course in early April. The weather has been exceptionally kind to us so it’s progressing exceptionally well.
“By the end of this week we’ll have the shaping of 9.5 holes completed. Shortly work on drainage and irrigation will take place on the shaped holes.
“In addition some of the peripheral areas will be hydro seeded and storm drainage will be installed where necessary.”
SAIGC will be the first and only private, member-owned golf club at St Andrews with its own course.
The development is being financed by Scotia Investments LP, which owns the site, and project managed by Christie and Partners of Dundee.
Located at Feddinch, on the southern boundary of St Andrews, the facilities will comprise an 18-hole world-class golf course with a bye hole, to settle matches, and a practice range, all designed by 1973 Open champion Tom Weiskopf, along with a clubhouse.
Mr McKay said: “The market for this place is basically people resident some distance away, more than likely overseas. We’ve had big interest from Asia in particular.
“The idea is that they can come here for a week and stay at their home at the home of golf, and we will then arrange their golf.
“That is very appealing to them. I find it quite extraordinary that there is no such thing as a private golf club with its own private golf course at the home of golf.”
Membership, totalling 500, will be by invitation only.
Mr McKay said Ross members, named after the late St Andrews-educated golf course architect Donald Ross, can expect to pay a joining fee of £75,000 with an annual fee of £5,000 thereafter.
Glamis members, named after honorary president of SAIGC the Earl of Strathmore, can expect to pay a cool £200,000 joining fee, with three weeks guaranteed accommodation per year and access during the St Andrews Opens proving a “big draw”.
With the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles next year and the Open back at St Andrews the year after, Mr McKay said it is an “exciting time” for golf.
He said Weiskopf, who has now visited the site on three occasions, has expressed his delight at the progress thus far, and is particularly pleased with the work of the shaper James Harbuck, who hails from Florida.