The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
‘Golf course on par with best in world’
Businessman wants to reverse ‘Castle Stuart effect’
THE American developer behind plans for a multimillion-pound golf course in Sutherland believes the project will keep players and tourists in the north.
In an exclusive interview with the Press and Journal, businessman Todd Warnock pledged his expert reports would satisfy conservationists who have mobilised against the plans for Coul Links, near Embo.
Instead, the “world class” championship course would be a boost to the area, creating an economic catalyst to keep players in the area for more than the time it takes to complete 18 holes.
Mr Warnock added: “We don’t need any more golfers up here, we need more golfers to stay in our area and if they stay, this could be the economic catalyst for more hotels and restaurants.
“And the catalyst to stay is a world class golf course which is on a par with Royal Dornoch.”
Mr Warnock also dismissed comparisons with Donald Trump’s development in the north-east, branding them “irrelevant”.
Mr Warnock revealed that the planning application could be submitted by the end of this year.
A new multimillion-pound golf course on the Sutherland coast would create an economic catalyst for the region by reversing the “Castle Stuart effect”, according to the developer behind the plans.
American businessman Todd Warnock spoke to The Press and Journal in his first newspaper interview on his plans with renowned golf course developer Mike Keiser to create a “world-class” championship course at Coul Links, Embo.
He also dismissed comparisons with Donald Trump’s golf course in the north-east.
Mr Warnock said that theopening of Castle Stuart in 2009-10, although boosting golf visitors to Royal Dornoch, paradoxically resulted in a decline of people staying in the area, as golfers staying in Inverness now travel to Dornoch by coach, play and return the same day.
Along with Mr Keiser, Mr Warnock will be investing £6-10million at Coul Links, and if planning is approved early next year they hope to have it open by spring 2020.
Mr Warnock, who also ownsthe Links House hotel and Carnegie Courthouse in Dornoch, added: “Before Castle Stuart opened you would not drive all the way to Dornoch and turn around and leave.
“Now, ifyou go and stand on the first tee at Dornoch you see busload after busload coming and leaving. The reason for that, and I have had lengthy conversations with tour operators, is that we have three iconic courses in the Highlands, and two of the three – Nairn and Castle Stuart – are in the Inverness area.
“If a group of golfers are on vacation and they stay at the Kingsmills, they will play Castle Stuart or Nairn and come up and play Dornoch and leave. They might remember Castle Stuart and Nairn and decide to go somewhere else for their next vacation.
“We don’t need anymore golfers up here, we need more golfers to stay in our area and if they stay, this could be the economic catalyst for more hotels and restaurants.
“And the catalyst to stay
“We don’t need any more golfers up here, we need more golfers to stay in our area”