News and Views from Scotland
Golf in the Rough
Art-Deco Clubhouse at Castle Stuart Golf Course
© John Allan via Wikimedia CommonsGolf courses need to be more enjoyable to stem a decline in uptake of the sport, the co-designer of this year's Scottish Open venue has said.
Mark Parsinen, who helped to lay out Castle Stuart Golf Links, near Inverness, said for 40 years the demand has been for harder courses. But with falling club memberships, he said the sport must try to balance the needs of professionals and amateurs.
Mr Parsinen said golf should not be "a thing of torture".
The co-architect of Kingsbarns in Fife (pictured here) and a developer of courses in the US, said statistics showed golf club membership in Scotland had fallen by 17% since 2004 and a growing number of courses were closing, with high costs and length of playing time among the reasons cited.
Please give me whatever feedback comes to mind via david@rampantscotland.com.
David
October 2016Return to News and Views Index
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