Contract awarded for new Torvean Golf Course
Contract awarded for new Torvean Golf Course
The contract for building the new Torvean Golf Course has been awarded to Coffey Construction Ltd & EGS Golf Ltd Joint Venture Partnership. The Tender value is £5.575million for the golf course construction and Torvean Housing site preparation works.
Construction will commence on 15 August 2016 and will be playable in 2019.
The new course is part of the project plans for enhanced sports facilities in the city, made possible with the building of the Inverness West Link.
The construction of the West Link requires a reconfiguration of the Golf Course and an estimated investment of £1.3 million was the minimum required to relocate the golf holes to enable the building of the road. Additional enhancements to the golf course were agreed in a greater ambition for the City of Inverness, thus enabling further economic development in the area. The Torvean Golf course project received planning consent in April 2015 and the Canal Parks Enhancement on 18th August 2015. The expanded golf project is estimated to cost an additional £8.227 million with additional funding anticipated from Sports Scotland for the clubhouse junior room.
The total cost of the project includes land purchase and Golf Course design as well as construction of the Clubhouse and maintenance facility.
The construction of the associated access road and Clubhouse and maintenance facility will commence in 2017, timed for completion to coincide with the golf course opening for play.
Award winning global golf course architect, Stuart Rennie, has been chosen to design the new Torvean Golf Course. Rennie is an award winning member of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects and has worked globally for five times Open Champion, Peter Thomson, in his design practice in Australia and in London.
The proposals for Torvean include:
- Locating the new 18 hole golf course in one contained area of land
- A Practice area that allows for the Club to expand it to Scottish Golf Union Development Standard status
- A new Clubhouse, which will accommodate a Junior Room;
- New maintenance buildings
- An access road to service the Clubhouse and maintenance building.
As highlighted in the approved Torvean and Ness-side Development Brief, this relocation of the golf course will also release residual existing golf course land to the East of General Booth Road and land to the South of the A82 will be freed up for informal public open space and a mixed use development adjacent to the canal at this important gateway to Inverness and discussions are ongoing with Scottish Canals to consider opportunities and bring these forward.
Hamish Spence, President of Torvean Golf Club said: "Torvean Golf Club have been working closely with the Council on this project. We are delighted that the project has reached this stage. As well as the obvious benefits to our members, the new clubhouse and course will be a major improvement to the existing sporting facilities available to the local community.”
Councillor Audrey Sinclair, Chair of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee welcomed the news of the contract award. She said: “We are making excellent progress with the building of the Inverness West Link and the associated sports and leisure projects. The road infrastructure is well underway and now we will see the work on the redevelopment of the Golf Course begin shortly. This new course will provide an additional facility for both residents and visitors. The plans are ambitious and will deliver substantial long term assets to the city of Inverness and the surrounding region.”
Convener of the Council, Councillor Isobel McCallum said:
“Golf tourism is very important to the Highland economy. The construction of the West Link required a reconfiguration to Torvean and additional enhancements to the golf course were agreed. They will deliver substantial long term assets for the City of Inverness which will further economic development in the area.”
Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Margaret Davidson added:
“Golf is clearly a significant tourist draw for the Highlands and the development at Torvean is keenly anticipated. The Council and the Inverness Common Good fund have allocated £33,000 and £23,000 respectively to activities which enhance the economic impact of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, as Councillors have recognised the significance of this World Class Sporting Event being held in the Highlands for the 4th time.
“The support will go towards making the event even more spectacular by enhancing the visitor experience at Castle Stuart and providing a party atmosphere in the City to boost the Tourist Economy. Golf is at the heart of many local communities and hosting Scotland’s leading Golf Tournament, not only provides a boost to the economy of many small Highland communities, but also encourages young and old alike to participate in sport.”
She went on to say: “The delivery of the West Link project will enhance our sports and leisure facilities in this area and will greatly improve our infrastructure, linking communities, reducing congestion in the city and supporting economic development across the region.”
Torvean golf club grassing plan
The drawings show the golf course layout.