Coastal experts have helped the construction of the new Kingsbarns golf links in Fife which is nearing completion following development by the California based company, Granite Bay Scotland Inc.
Experts from HR Wallingford were called in to assess the problem which local civil engineers were predicting would cost nearly £250,000 to solve. HR Wallingford is a world leader in coastal defence strategy planning and has had long experience in advising on hydraulic issues relating to recreational development along the coast.
Oceanographer Tom Coates conducted a site survey and carried out desk studies to assess the risks of coastal erosion for the Kingsbarns course. His finding was that the erosion could be managed at considerably less cost than that first proposed. Unsurprisingly the developers chose the best value option.
One of the difficulties in managing coastal erosion is that the golf courses are often surrounded by environmentally sensitive areas. This means that special care needs to be taken in designing coastal defences to avoid disturbing or damaging local habitats. The Kingsbarns golf links is in just such an area, being bordered by a site of special scientific interest.