Golf club driving forward

New range at Downfield is approved by city council

PL ANS for new driving ra nge faci lities at Downfield Golf Club have been given the go-ahead by Dundee City Council.

An application was submitted to the local authority in October 2019 to create a permanent driving range on land currently used as a practice range by members and guests of the Turnberry Avenue club.

Garry Adam Chartered Architect Ltd are behind the proposals, and based their design on experience of existing golf driving ranges in Scotland. The range is set to be 250 metres long, which will “accommodate good long shots from the very best low handicap golfers.”

At the end of the drive, it is proposed there will be an additional safety feature of a high earth embankment. A new building is also proposed, which will be used for the purposes of the existing driving range as well as teaching and providing shelter for visitors.

One letter of objection was submitted to the local authority, arguing that the trees and landscape of the area would be impacted by the proposals.

This came after the club received a ticking-off last year by the national environmental body Scottish Forestry, which ruled they had unlawfully cut down trees in an area earmarked for housing.

However, a planning officer determined the application does not propose to remove any trees, bushes or soil.

The plans for the driving range were drawn up after a separate application was lodged with the city council proposing to build a new residential development on land west of Dalmahoy Drive.

Submitted on behalf of construction firm Kirkwood Homes, it includes proposals to build 49 properties on the site next to the range and is still under consideration by the council.

If the plans are approved, the homes will be built adjacent to the driving range site - with the total distance between driving range and the garden fence being 40 metres.