£50,000 to save historic North Inch golf course

The North Inch Golf Course in Perth was the first in the world to gain royal patronage but it was feared it would be closed due to regular flooding from the River Tay and a fall in numbers.

Over the last few years the course, one of the oldest in the world, has fallen into disrepair.

However North Inch, which dates back to the 1500s, when King James IV was said to have played on the parklands, has received a reprieve in the form of a £50,000 grant from Perth and Kinross Council to fund maintenance and improvements over the next two years.

The money will cover dredging of the burn on the course, replacement of artificial tees and improvements to the entrance and path to the golf starter’s hut.

It was also agreed that a marketing plan to encourage more use of the course and a revised pricing schedule for golfers will be introduced.

The current arrangement of the course was laid out by Old Tom Morris. Environment committee chair Councillor Alan Grant said: “With the Ryder Cup taking place at Gleneagles, this will be a big year for Perthshire golf.”