Coul Links planning is in

The planning application for the new Coul Links golf course has now finally been lodged. So what’s been occurring?

Mike Keiser and Todd Warnock are very bullish about success, and the piece of land that they have to work with would produce a stunning course – there’s no doubt about that.

But not everyone is happy, as there are claims that the non-financial cost is very high.

They've announced their intention to sponsor tournaments at neighbouring courses and look at collaborative booking systems. But their positive claims for the future health of the nearby historic courses, including Royal Dornoch, Brora and Golfspie, are somewhat undermined by the fact that their economic impact consultants just can't find a way of squaring the shortfall in the up-market accommodation required by golf tourists.

On the ecology front, Bandon Dunes have claimed that the condition of the SSSI that will host the course will be enhanced. The documentation explains how this will be achieved.

The first item in their "Biodiversity net gain report" ... The landowner, Mr Abel-Smith, will stop shooting ducks!

Well, that’s a start, we guess.

Here’s a fantastic fly-over of the course, which also shows that there could be issues with standing water during the Winter, so winter closure might just be longer than the four months that they are hoping for.

It’s an amazing opportunity to build something incredible, but there are clearly questions that still need answering.

Related:

Playing Royal Dornoch in a gale