Ambitious plans for Highland Perthshire golf

Apr 15 2011 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A HIGHLAND Perthshire golf club has teed-up ambitious expansion plans aimed at nurturing the next generation of golfing talent.

Pitlochry Golf Club, which dates back to 1909, already offers a smart new clubhouse for nearly 400 members and visitors to the tourist town, and an 18-hole course regarded as one of the most scenic and challenging in Scotland .

Now, a public exhibition in advance of a planning application for expanding the golfing attraction will take place on Wednesday at the Pitlochry clubhouse from 2-8pm.

Businessmen and long-time members Stephen Carruthers, Richard Drummond and Jon Erasmus, the directors who took over the club on a 30-year lease from Pitlochry Estates Trust, have unveiled proposals to create a new and flexible nine hole development course, a covered driving range, a short game practice area and car park extension on agricultural land adjacent to the course, which would see the second hole re-aligned and extended to a Par 5.

Their primary aim is to aid and support the development of junior golf in Highland Perthshire .

Stephen stressed the academy project was dependent on match funding from other sources, including sportscotland.

“We anticipate that subject to grant funding approval and subsequent planning consent the driving range and short game area would be operational for start of next season, with the Par 3 course being ready from early 2013.”

He pointed out that the club, and professional Mark Pirie, were pressing ahead with an intensive programme aimed at nurturing new and young golfers in the area.

Stephen added: “Golfers locally have to travel to Perth for their nearest driving range. I believe this would be the only such facility between Perth and Inverness and it would be great for the whole Highland Perthshire area.”

The club wants to see their junior ranks mushrooming in the countdown to the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and all junior members currently enjoy 14 weeks of free golf lessons with the on-site PGA professionals, who have also been taking coaching classes into local schools.

The membership fees for junior golfers are: Under 13’s £30, Under 15’s £40 and Under 18’s £50. Young adults are also being offered low membership packages.

Stephen said: “We see the proposed development as paving the way to an exceptional primary golf facility in a safe and secure family environment to promote and grow the participation of junior golfers within Perthshire.”

He stressed it would benefit the many visitors to the area keen on golf and also the six other clubs within a 12-mile radius of Pitlochry.

And county golfer Stephen added that the proposed project would take on board the local environment and will feature the addition of ponds and wetland. Consultations have been proceeding with the Scottish Golf Environment Group.

“Anyone wishing information on our plans for the golf club is very welcome to come along on Wednesday,” he said.