Coul Links, the Never Ending Story

[David_Tepper]

New article here and I am too lazy to find the previous thread.


https://golf.com/travel/coul-links-scottish-highlands-controversy-decision/?utm_campaign=forecast&utm_source=golfcom&utm_medium=email&utm_content={date(

[MHiserman]

Do you just want ALL the great courses at your front door? 

[Tim Gallant]

Any idea on when the decision is expected? I remember at the time they said April, but not sure if that's still the plan.

[AJ_Foote]

David,


Sorry if I've missed it, but what is your opinion on the issue?


I know you have a local interest.


It seems that there is an opportunity to create a wonderful course - albeit with SSSI restrictions - whilst enhancing a degraded piece of land and adding jobs and money to the region.


Is that, in essence, the pro case?


Cheers,


Andrew

[Niall C]

It seems that there is an opportunity to create a wonderful course - albeit with SSSI restrictions - whilst enhancing a degraded piece of land and adding jobs and money to the region.

Would you call Yellowstone park "degraded" ?


Niall

[Mark Mammel]

Like David, I've been a Dornoch member for many years (1993) and am familiar with the area for Coul Links. In fact, I visited the farm with a local woman who grew up there. First, it's no Yellowstone by a far margin. Adding a new seaside links course, using the Coore-Crenshaw model, a stone's through from RDGC would be a mixed blessing for those of us who remember the town before tourism. But for those living there today, it would provide local jobs, increase tourism revenues, both in Dornoch and in the surrounding areas (think Golspie, Brora, Reay, Thurso, etc) while decreasing pressure on the top course. The local residents I know are in favor of the project; as has been mentioned in this forum, the experience at Trump International has soured many Scots (especially the special interest groups who put pressure on politicians outside the local area) on the issue of new golf course development by painting all developers with the Trump brush. I hope to see the project go forward, whether I see it or not.

[Adam Lawrence]

It seems that there is an opportunity to create a wonderful course - albeit with SSSI restrictions - whilst enhancing a degraded piece of land and adding jobs and money to the region.

Would you call Yellowstone park "degraded" ?

Niall

Have you seen the site Niall? I have, and I think degraded is a good choice of descriptor.

[Niall C]

Adam


How so ?


Niall

[Niall C]

Like David, I've been a Dornoch member for many years (1993) and am familiar with the area for Coul Links. In fact, I visited the farm with a local woman who grew up there. First, it's no Yellowstone by a far margin. Adding a new seaside links course, using the Coore-Crenshaw model, a stone's through from RDGC would be a mixed blessing for those of us who remember the town before tourism. But for those living there today, it would provide local jobs, increase tourism revenues, both in Dornoch and in the surrounding areas (think Golspie, Brora, Reay, Thurso, etc) while decreasing pressure on the top course. The local residents I know are in favor of the project; as has been mentioned in this forum, the experience at Trump International has soured many Scots (especially the special interest groups who put pressure on politicians outside the local area) on the issue of new golf course development by painting all developers with the Trump brush. I hope to see the project go forward, whether I see it or not.

Mark


My point about Yellowstone is that its also a protected area, or so I believe, and while it might have areas of invasive species and human development you wouldn't use that as reasons to cut down swathes of trees to undertake further development.


In terms of the economic impact, I tend to think you'll find it harder to get a tee time on RDGC if this development goes ahead, rather than finding it easier. I'd also question your comment on local jobs. I recall the financial case made in the original application where they were clear that General Manager, professionals, greenkeepers etc were coming from outside and that the only locals employed would be caddies/bag carriers on a seasonal basis.


Final comment; you suggest that all golf developers have been tarred with the same brush as Trump (and Embo). That's simply not true as evidenced by how Mach Dunes, Dunbarnie and Castle Stuart have been developed without any stooshie. As I've said before, developers trying to run roughshod over planning constraints does Scottish golf in general no favours.


Niall   

[Adam Lawrence]

Adam

How so ?

Niall

Because a significant part of it has been covered for many years with the felled trunks of non-native trees.

[Niall C]

Adam


How significant ? Are we talking about 5 or 10% of the site or are we talking about a larger area ? Were they self-seeded trees or planted ?


Niall

[Adam Lawrence]

Adam

How significant ? Are we talking about 5 or 10% of the site or are we talking about a larger area ? Were they self-seeded trees or planted ?

Niall

I couldn’t say how much, but it was _extremely_ noticeable.


How on earth would non-native trees self seed? I presume it was the consequence of a long ago attempt to create a commercial forestry plantation.

[Tom Dunne]

It seems that there is an opportunity to create a wonderful course - albeit with SSSI restrictions - whilst enhancing a degraded piece of land and adding jobs and money to the region.

Would you call Yellowstone park "degraded" ?

Niall

Have you seen the site Niall? I have, and I think degraded is a good choice of descriptor.

I spent the better part of a week at Coul almost a decade ago.


The site is not all of one piece. The northern portion is where the SSSI is situated as it ties in to the avian life of the Loch Fleet estuary, and this is the area around which the debate revolves. The southern section, adjacent to Embo, is definitely degraded and has been used as a (probably illicit) dumping ground. I distinctly remember happening upon a half-buried washing machine while walking around this part of the site. The southern section also catches the agricultural runoff from the farm(s) to the west. The vegetation is (was) thick, waist-high non-native weeds and the ground is (was) frequently boggy underfoot. It could certainly be remediated but it is not the virgin linksland one finds elsewhere at Coul.

[Kalen Braley]

At the risk of being flamed, this seems like an apples to oranges comparison.

How many SSSI dunes systems are there just in the UK?  Much less dune systems throughout the world?

I've been to Yellowstone a few times and it is indeed a one of kind.

P.S  They continue to build new stuff in Yellowstone, opened a brand new Hotel a few years back inside the park boundaries

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