GOLFING legend Jack Nicklaus and his design time have redrawn a controversial golf course to protect ancient woodland.
The developer behind the transformation of Ury Estate, near Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire, announced that a number of measures have been taken to address concerns raised by objectors to its £80 million golf development which has as its centrepiece an 18-hole course.
The course designers claim redrawing the eighth hole and removing apart of the ancient woodland will allow 3,000 new trees to be planted to protect the overall forest.
Jonathon Milne, director of developer FM Group, said: “We are very sensitive to the natural environment.
"Ury is fortunate to contain a huge amount of biodiversity and we want to protect that
"In some areas, the sycamores are taking over and threatening this biodiversity and where this is happening, we will be felling those species."
He added: "Our team of specialists has been working incredibly hard to listen to the consultees and fully understand the issues raised.
"We are particularly grateful to Jack Nicklaus and his team for redesigning the eight hole so that we will have minimal impact on the woodland around this part of the course.”
An independent report revealed that the proposed championship golf course and associated housing development will generate £55.5m for the Aberdeenshire economy over a 15-year period and create 200 new jobs.
There will also be 90 high-end homes in the transformation of estate, which will see the restoration and conversion of Ury Mansion House into a luxury hotel and clubhouse, a mix of high-quality, traditionally built, affordable and luxury housing, improved access, infrastructure and landscaping.
Mr Milne added: “This much-anticipated golf development will really put Stonehaven on the map, attracting tourists and boosting business in the town. It is the final piece in the jigsaw for the Ury Estate development and an intrinsic part of the overall viability of the estate.”
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