Rapidly rising demand has prompted St Andrews Links Trust to seek planning permission to convert some of the present outdoor bays at the Golf Practice Centre to indoor ones.
“Usage of the Centre in winter has risen by over 60% since it was opened and demand so far this year is almost a third up on a year ago,” said Links Trust general manager Alan McGregor. “This has put enormous pressure on the indoor bays resulting in lengthy waiting times for golfers. We have applied for approval to convert some of the outdoor bays beside the entrance road into 14 indoor bays to meet this burgeoning demand.
“Extending the covered bays at the Golf Practice Centre was part of our longer term planning, but if we are to meet our commitment to provide a good service, we have to bring the conversion of the outdoor bays forward to meet this explosion in usage.”
A new, ultra modern lighting system is planned for the new indoor bays and the existing floodlighting on the present bays will also be replaced by the new system.
“This latest advanced lighting is so much more efficient that although the number of bays covered is much greater, the total amount of light produced actually reduces,” said Mr McGregor. “There will be a significant improvement with the new system resulting in reduced glare and less halo effect.”
The St Andrews Links Golf Practice Centre opened on 1st July 1993 and has presently 44 bays for driving and iron play together with a short game practice area.
St Andrews Links Trust www.standrews.org.uk
