Ambitious plans for Pitlochry Golf Club gain Perth and Kinross Council support

Oct 21 2011 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

AMBITIOUS plans to create a golfing centre of excellence at Pitlochry have been given an enthusiastic go-ahead by councillors.

Members of the development control committee of Perth and Kinross Council were unanimous in supporting plans to create a new nine-hole golf course, practice areas and 12-bay covered driving range on land adjacent to the town’s existing scenic course.

The £200,000 development, will also include two par fives on the picturesque course, which was designed by Willie Fernie of Troon in 1909.

When complete, the new-look Pitlochry Golf Course will become the first in the area to provide facilities which enable players of all ages to work on every technical aspect of their game.

The directors of Pitlochry Golf Course said the development would take golf provision in Highland Perthshire to a new level.

“We believe the planners’ decision is hugely significant, not only in the history of the course itself but in terms of sports provision and for driving tourism in Perthshire,” said Richard Drummond, one of the Pitlochry Golf Club directors.

“This is a milestone for the course. It will make Pitlochry a major golfing destination and will also create jobs.

“The only course which will have similar facilities in the whole of Perthshire will be Gleneagles. Naturally, we are very excited about the future.”

In recommending the blueprint for approval, PKC’s development quality manager Nick Brian said the proposals would “significantly improve the golf course facilities”, highlighting the potential for developing the sport’s future generations.

The plan was also praised for its environmental detail, with directors working closely with council environment officers, SNH and the Scottish Golf Environment Group.

New wildlife corridors, wetlands and improved pathways for walkers will be accommodated, with planning officials acknowledging ‘significant improvement to biodiversity’ on-site.

“The flora and fauna is diverse and we worked hard to ensure the plan incorporated this,” explained another director, Jon Erasmus.

“As well as providing wetlands and wildlife corridors, we will be providing routes for walkers which will be much better and safer.”

With approval granted for one of the biggest single developments in the club’s 102-year history, the news represents another chapter in its renaissance.

There were serious concerns over its long-term viability until co-directors Drummond, Erasmus and Stephen Carruthers secured a 30-year lease from Pitlochry Estates Trust in January 2010.

Since then, clubhouse bar and restaurant turnover has doubled and membership has risen to more than 400 members and 100 community members.

Mr Carruthers said he believed the new development will accelerate and cement the progress made, with aspirations to produce a Scottish junior international by 2018.

“This takes away limitations we have had in the past and provides people with an affordable facility, open to all,” he said.

“The changes to the course itself, with the par fives, also makes it a more varied and complete experience for the golfer.”

The final piece in the development jigsaw is confirmation of assistance from Sportscotland, with the national agency for sport looking favourably upon the venture.

Two PGA professionals will be on-site and techniques such as state-of-the-art video coaching will be available.

Open 2012

The projected timetable for each phase, subject to funding confirmation, is late spring 2012 for the driving range, with the academy course and practice area to follow later next year.