[Brian_Ewen]

https://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/19505616.multi-million-pound-development-planned-dunbar-golf-club/


Multi-million-pound development planned for Dunbar Golf Club
By Cameron Ritchie

AMBITIOUS plans to radically upgrade facilities at one of Scotland’s most historic golf clubs have taken a step forward.

Proposals for Dunbar Golf Club, which dates back to 1856, include a brand-new clubhouse, a nine-hole short course, golf academy, driving range and new greenkeeper facilities.

Funding for the upgrades will come from 78 new homes built by CALA over two different sites at the course.

Discussions about development at the course have been ongoing for a number of years, with previous plans including the creation of a hotel, which will now not happen.



Phase one will see the construction of the clubhouse, golf academy and driving range along with 60 new homes to the south of the site, towards Deer Park Cemetery, while 18 homes will form phase two to the north, on land which includes the location of the current clubhouse.

Renowned practice G1 Architects is behind the designs for the £3.6m clubhouse, following on from celebrated projects at Castle Stuart Golf Links, Kingsbarns and the recently-opened clubhouse at Dumbarnie Links.

Jacky Montgomery, PGA director of golf at Dunbar Golf Club, was pleased to see the plans now with East Lothian Council.

He said: “Having these exciting new facilities will not only be a major benefit for our members and visitors, but it opens up significant opportunities for local people to get involved in golf and to enjoy the many health and well-being aspects of participating in the sport.

“From the driving range and academy, through to the short game practice area and the par 3 golf course, we are breaking down barriers into the game.

“It will also give us much greater scope to further develop the work we do with our local schools and community groups.”



The nine-hole par-three course is designed by RAW Golf Design – a practice formed by David J Russell and 1991 Masters Winner, Ian Woosnam.

Together, the duo has been involved in designing courses across the world from Archerfield and Islay to Bulgaria, Russia and St Kitts.

Tony Thomas, of APT Planning and Development, which is representing Dunbar Golf Club and CALA Homes, said: “These new facilities will provide a massive boost to the club and will produce many long term benefits such as attracting new participants to golf, growing golf tourism in the area and generating more permanent employment within the local community.

“The clubhouse and greenkeeper facilities were in need of renovation and the new academy driving range and short course will be a welcome addition to the current championship course.”

As well as an expected economic boost – through construction contracts and long-term employment opportunities created within the club’s staff team including hospitality, PGA services and greenkeeping – it is hoped the new facilities will ensure the long-term attraction of Dunbar Golf Club to the international visitor market and the valuable golf tourism spend, which also benefits local businesses including restaurants, hotels and taxi services.



Planning permission in principle for the development was initially granted in October 2015.

Since then, plans have been reviewed following a joint consultation held by Dunbar Golf Club and CALA Homes (East) in April 2019, when a proposed hotel was removed from the plans.

The developers are also expected to meet with the town’s community council in the near future.

Craig Lynes, managing director for CALA Homes (East), was keen to see the plans go ahead.

He said: “The enabling development proposals have been created in close collaboration with Dunbar Golf Club, council planners and the local community in order to maximise benefits for the club and the wider Dunbar area.

“This project has the potential to leave a powerful legacy, both in terms of sport and leisure – and local prosperity.

“It’s also an honour and privilege to have the opportunity to play a role in the next chapter of one of Scotland’s oldest golf clubs.”

[Tom_Doak]

It looks like they are removing the first three holes of the present course with the new par-3 course, but I can't see where they are going to replace the three holes lost?


Hopefully they have negotiated well for a fair share of the £££ the property developer will make.

[Ian Galbraith]

It looks like they are removing the first three holes of the present course with the new par-3 course, but I can't see where they are going to replace the three holes lost?


Hopefully they have negotiated well for a fair share of the £££ the property developer will make.

The current  first three holes will still be in play in the new scheme, the current 1st will become the 18th and the current 2nd and 3rd will be the 1st and 2nd. You can see these 3 holes in the picture winding round the existing  red-roofed pro shop.

[Niall C]

So will any existing holes be lost ? At first read the article isn't very clear.


Niall

[Ian Galbraith]

So will any existing holes be lost ? At first read the article isn't very clear.


Niall

Not as far as I understand, just shifting everything round by one hole to locate the first tee next to the new clubhouse.

[Michael Whitaker]

No loss of holes. Play will start on the current 2nd hole and finish on the current 1st, which will become the 18th. The view from the new clubhouse will be all world amazing!


I’ve always disliked the beginning at Dunbar, with the back to back par 5 start. This will be a much better beginning and end to a round there, IMO.

[Ally Mcintosh]

I have been due to visit Dunbar for the first time for the last two years now. Just rearranged for June 2022 so not sure what they might have kicked off at that stage.


I see David Russell is the architect. Somehow I suspect that with such a large project, the original 18 will not remain untouched.


For those who know the course, is that worrying or is there an obvious winner?

[Sean_A]

Is there much scope to change Dunbar that much? The four holes on Proshop side of the wall are nothing special and could do with a rethink. But the remainder of the course is very shoehorned and features a lot of very good holes.

Ciao

[David Jones]

Is there much scope to change Dunbar that much? The four holes on Proshop side of the wall are nothing specia and could do with a rethink. But the remainder of the course is very shoehorned and features a lot of very good holes.

Ciao

Agreed, the layout is pretty squeezed and the course is best left alone, short from maybe some tweaking on those early holes.


I’m with Michael and think this routing will work well. I like the idea of having the new clubhouse next to the current first green and making it the 18th. it breaks up those inland holes and there is some risk and reward on 18 now.


DJ Russell’s short game area at The Machrie is great fun and you get to play lots of different shots so hope he has scope to do something similar here.

[Sean_A]

Will the house be where the proshop currently is?

Ciao

[David Jones]

Will the house be where the proshop currently is?

Ciao

It’ll be up to the right of the current 1st (new 18th) green I think. You can see it on the right hand side of Brian’s second picture.

[Ally Mcintosh]

Is there much scope to change Dunbar that much? The four holes on Proshop side of the wall are nothing special and could do with a rethink. But the remainder of the course is very shoehorned and features a lot of very good holes.

Ciao

I’m sure the routing won’t be changed. But I wouldn’t be surprised if a whole bunch of window dressing is sold as part of this scheme.

[Niall C]

No loss of holes. Play will start on the current 2nd hole and finish on the current 1st, which will become the 18th. The view from the new clubhouse will be all world amazing!


I’ve always disliked the beginning at Dunbar, with the back to back par 5 start. This will be a much better beginning and end to a round there, IMO.

Mike

I don't know Dunbar to comment on that but I recall when the clubhouse at Machrihanish burned own that I suggested something similar with the new clubhouse going to the area to the south of the 17th green and the 18th would become the 1st and the famous opening hole the 2nd. It might have meant they lost the tag of best opening hole in Scotland but I think it would have produced a better flow and by removing the pro shop area and putting green there was an opportunity to perhaps rejig the green for the existing 18th and tee for the existing 1st.

Of course, Machrihanish didn't have the benefit of a windfall from development in the way that Dunbar has.

Niall

[John Mayhugh]

Difficult to tell from the rendering - is the wall separating the main 14 holes remaining? It would be a shame to see that go, but looks like it will remain.
The current location of the start is awkward, so if they leave the course alone other than sequencing, this seems like it could be a good change.

[JohnVDB]

I played there on Wednesday and enjoyed the course.  The on,y change to the course in all this is that #1 becomes #18, #2 becomes #1 and all the other holes hole numbers adjust in a similar way.


The current #1 will be a good #18 as it is a reachable par 5 with a burn in front of the green which can lead to exciting finishes.

[Michael Whitaker]

Mayhugh - everything remains the same
as currently exists. Just a change in the hole numbers.


Sean - the new house will be located on the hill above the current 2nd hole… overlooking the course and firth. The view will be spectacular!

[Ben Sims]

https://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/content/dunbar-golf-club-receives-green-light-for-new-short-course-by-raw-golf-design


Relatively recent approvals given on new works at Dunbar. As previously mentioned, it doesn’t affect the golf course, just re-numbers the holes.

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