Plans to renovate iconic St Andrews R&A clubhouse given green light

Fife Council has given the go ahead to proposals to alter the historic clubhouse.

These will see the female locker rooms located be within the main clubhouse for the very first time – they are currently in a separate building.

The renovations will take place mainly underground, so there will be little change to the imposing building - but the extensive work will triple its accommodation space.

That makes it the biggest development at the clubhouse since its foundation stone was first laid in 1853.

The work - due to start next year - includes extending its basement - by digging below the car park - as well as making significant changes to the area around it.

These include the formation of a new car parking area, the erection of new walls and railings, and new ramps and stairs.

A statement by the club noted that the “existing golfing facilities need to be reconsidered to improve its nature and extent”.

It added: “It has been established that the clubhouse is more frequently used by members throughout the year than has been the case in the past, and that the facilities are no longer adequate to cope with demand during the spring and autumn meetings hosted by the club.”

At present, women can only use a locker room at Forgan House, and the club considers it “imperative” that all members can use facilities in the clubhouse.

The new facilities will include 450 lockers, with adequate bench and hanging space in dedicated locker rooms. At the moment there are just 120 full size lockers in the male locker room.

The plans will see more showers and toilets added for both locker rooms.

There will also be space for up to 500 golf bags and trolleys, up from space for just 156 now.

The proposals also include plans to move the Playfair Monument.

The historic Cutty Sark flagpole, which was gifted to the R&A in 1943, will also be refurbished before being repositioned within the new landscape.