Golf Development Centre - Update 11th October 2024
By now, many of you will be aware that SAC have commenced a "public engagement" (note – not a consultation) around their proposals to construct what they quaintly call a “Development Centre”, which is in effect glorified words for a golf driving range.
For those who have not seen the plans, we enclose what SAC call their “Masterplan”. Unfortunately at the scale we have to present it on the website the detail is not entirely clear, but we are assured that larger scale plans will be posted in the clubhouse.
It is clear from the “Masterplan” that in true Trump fashion, SAC claims that “only one hole will be disrupted /affected" are blatantly untrue.
The full list of course changes is as follows :
- Course shortened by over 200 yards
- Par reduced from 71 to 69
- Number of par 3’s increased to 6 from 5
- New irrigation system across the entire course
- Bunker renovation across the entire course (3 holes at a time)
- Construction of a new par 3
- Construction of a new 11th (currently 9th green)
- New teeing grounds at holes 1, 2,4,8,9,13,15,17,18
- Limited tree works
- Construction of a new 18th green (shortenting the hole to a par 4)
The Development Centre (driving range) is planned to be constructed on the existing Belleisle course first hole and we are currently unaware whether it will be floodlit or not, it will not be fenced in, it will have no social facilities (catering, toilets, etc), and will be fairly short for driving range purposes at around 260m.
What many people will be unaware of is that Belleisle is not just a James Braid masterpiece, but one of only two projects in his entire career where he designed and constructed two courses at the same time. The other instance is Gleneagles Kings and Queens courses, so we are in exalted company (for now).
Not to put too fine a point on it, while totally in support of works such as irrigation and bunker improvements, your committee are dead set against the proposed Development Centre for a number of reasons, but mainly because we believe it will vandalise a classic and historic James Braid course and provide absolutely no proven benefits to club members or the public in general. In conjunction with other interested bodies such as Friends of Belleisle we are in the process of constructing solid arguments to support our case and have already identified significant areas to concentrate on.
In the meantime, as part of SAC’s “public engagement” members can provide their own feedback (positive or negative) to SAC through the following link
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=qceY9FdlpUqYrI_ZFheP2dV41p2w8cFBtqqhlOApOoFUMTk4QkIwVzZMRFZBNU84QlY5VlJUMFY5Ui4u&route=shorturl
Proposed Golf Development Centre at Belleisle
Association of Belleisle Golf Clubs – September 2024
Following the ongoing rumours, stories, gossip surrounding the proposed development of both the Belleisle course and Development Centre, a number of clubs have got together to form the Association of Belleisle Park Golf Clubs.
In part this was to try and bring consistency and accuracy to what was being rumoured and discussed, and to bring more of a stronger voice and credence to club members concerns, as SAC / GSA were easily “picking off” individuals and clubs, dismissing any concerns, and refusing to meet with them.
Participation on the Association is based purely on progressing the best interests of Belleisle Park Golf Clubs and courses. No individual club issues or proposals will be allowed to divert the focus of the association from this purpose. (i.e. the association is there for everyone’s benefit and not just to micromanage and enable specific issues / moans / complaints to be addressed). Individual clubs who have specific issues can continue to refer these directly to SAC.
To ensure balanced representation on the association while each club may have up to a maximum of 3 representatives, each club will only have 1 vote on any issue.
Obviously, the main attention of the association at this time is to develop reasons / argument for and against the proposed developments and to agree how, when and where these will be formally presented, and to feedback council responses to club members. The intention of the association is to provide a balanced viewpoint based on club members feedback, and NOT to simply oppose the proposals.
Going forward, other intentions of the association are to identify specific areas where communications and mutual support between the member golf clubs and SAC staff can be improved and lead to improved golfing facilities and environment for both parties. Items such as course layout, presentation and methods of presenting course information (1), and responsibilities (of both council and golf clubs) should be included.
- The aim being to make all persons, whether they be members, visitors or onlookers, aware of general information such as timing of major works on the course, frequency of hole changing, speed and cutting heights of greens, rotation of tee markers, and course maintenance requests (eg to fill in divots, paint markers, use of trollies, raking of bunkers, etc) .
Watch the SAC meeting 19th August 2024 regarding the proposals for Belleisle Golf Course
There was a 'special' meeting of the SAC on 19th August 2024. The outcome of a vote for the continuation of the proposed Golf Developement Centre went 24 For, 7 Against and 1 Abstention.
We would urge all members to listen in and view the webcast of the meeting. You will then be able to make up your own minds as to the preparedness of those elected officials driving this proposal, how informed they actually are regarding the proposal and the lack of awareness of the strength of feeling to the proposal of those using the golf course, and probably most important of all, the frightening absence of any up to date or knowledgeable responses to questions asked of officials.
The concept is to attract High Profile golf tournaments. Why a development centre /driving range, would do so is difficult to comprehend at present.
To watch the meeting please click on the link below. This is an over 3 hour meeting, so to listen to the specific agenda item fast forward to 1hr 46min.
South Ayrshire Council (Special) - Monday 19 August 2024, 10:00am - South Ayrshire Council Webcasting (public-i.tv)
Proposed Golf Development Centre at Belleisle
We enclose, for your information, the first published details of the long discussed Golf Development Centre at Belleisle Park. This document is taken from the meeting titled "South Ayrshire Council (Special) - 19 August 2024" and the report from Director of Communities and Transformation presented at that meeting.
The document provides significantly more detail that previously released by SAC, including dates, costings, explicit detail of the structure etc. It also contains some "interesting" statements such as "The proposed location is to the west of Belleisle House with the mansion providing an impressive backdrop." Going by that statement the old Station Hotel in Ayr must be a national monument.!
The development is also stated to be located to the "west" of Belleisle House. Not going by Ordnance Survey gridlines it's not, nor is it to the west even if you stand at the front of the building. Anyway
As mentioned in the document, SAC are planning to take this proposed development to public consultation, so this information should help members understand the extent of works and perhaps the associated impact on your golfing future, as it is crystal clear from the linked images in the document the first tee has to disappear.
Please note that this document deals only with the Golf Development Centre, NOT the course changes we have also heard rumours about.
Happy Reading.
SAC paper on Golf Development Centr