Carnoustie links bosses can drive ahead with an ambitious £3 million project after planning councillors unanimously backed the expansion of facilities at the world-famous Angus course.
The controversial pro centre scheme had been opposed by some town hoteliers who claimed it would suck trade away from the rest of Carnoustie.
Carnoustie Golf Links Management Committee believe the reverse is true and told councillors the development would hopefully keep the town near the top of the leaderboard of world golfing facilities and firmly on the lucrative Open Championship rota.
The major expansion of the pro centre, which replaced the Carnoustie starter’s, box will include a restaurant and balconies for players and visitors to enjoy commanding views of the course’s opening and closing holes.
A cylindrical tower with conical roof will be one of the main features of the new building, which will include two wings with ground-floor caddy facilities and storage included below the new restaurant, bar, heritage area and viewing balconies.
Planning officials had recommended approval of the scheme, and CGLMC agent Maria Francke told a meeting of Angus Council’s development standards committee in Forfar the ambitious project was essential to help the venue retain its position in the global game.
“Carnoustie operates at the highest level of world golf it has hosted seven Open Championships,” she said.
“At this level the competition is fierce many course would like to be Open venues,” she added, highlighting Aberdeenshire’s Trump International as one of the locations with aspirations to become a top tournament location.
She said the proposal was a “sustainable and sensitively designed extension providing world-class facilities to match the experience provided by the golf course.”
The agent challenged the view of critics about the impact on local trade by suggesting the expansion would help stem the leakage of vital tourism cash.
“The trustees see this as being a benefit for the whole town.
“One of the main comments made to the links is that the visiting golfer does not stay following their round, but prefers to return to St Andrews.
“This will encourage them to stay, which can only benefit the wider community,” she continued.
“All the trustees are seeking to achieve is to bring Carnoustie up to the same level as its competitors. Both history and future expectation demands that Carnoustie offers an experience as good as anywhere in the world.”