1. This advice note suggests action which might be taken to minimise the impact of golf courses on the environment and in particular, on walkers' enjoyment of rights of way.
2. The Ramblers' Association does not oppose all new golf courses, but it does scrutinise planning applicatons carefully to make the most of opportunities to improve access, and will object to those which reduce the amenity and enjoyment of rights of way.
3. Depending on their location and design, new golf courses can be either harmful to the landscape or beneficial. Government has expressed the view that there should be a preference for locating new golf courses where they can make a positive contribution to landscape enhancement, for example within degraded landscapes such as those affected by mineral workings or where intensive agriculture has damaged the landscape.
4. Proposals for new golf courses come within the planning system. A planning application will be made to the local planning authority and decided by that authority (or by the Secretary of State if the authority rejects it and the applicant appeals).
5. The Government's own advice to local authorities (in Planning Policy Guidance 17) acknowledges that golf courses can have a significant impact on the countryside and says "they should be located and designed to ensure harmony with the surrounding countryside and to conserve the natural environment. Each proposal should contain full details of the site and of the impact of the development proposed, including the effect on public rights of way".
6. Natural England's view is that land with area-wide public access should not be targeted for new golf courses, that new golf course developments should enhance existing recreational opportunities and public rights of way should be avoided unless they can be safely and effectively designed into the new course.
7. Any changes to rights of way are dealt with after planning permission has been granted by means of orders under section 257 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The scope for opposing such orders is constrained by the permission which has already been granted so planning applications should always be scrutinised for their effect on rights of way.
8. There is no policy statement on the potential danger caused by golfers to users of nearby rights of way, and, in particular, on how close rights of way should be to fairways. There does however appear to be general agreement that courses should be designed so that rights of way do not cross fairways.
9. The following are recommendations which may improve the safety of rights of way across golf courses:
- Tees: The nearest edge of the teeing area to be not less than 15m from any right of way.
- Fairways: At a distance of 200m from the front edge of the teeing area the edge of the fairway shall be not less than 50m from any right of way. No part of any fairway more than 200m from the front edge of the teeing area shall be less than 50m from any right of way.
- Greens: Greens should normally be sited so that no right of way is closer than 50m from the edge of the green. For rights of way situated beyond the green, this may be reduced to 30m provided the whole of the right of way is clearly visible from the area from which the shots are likely to be played.
10. Greater safety margins may be needed for bridleways. Horses can be unpredictable and dangerous if startled.
11. A further possible hazard to walkers arises from the increased traffic on local roads which will arise from the golf course development, especially if the local rights of way network is such that those roads have to be walked to link footpath and bridleways. This may be a reason to oppose the planning application or seek the creation of new paths to cut out the road walking.
12. In some cases, the proposal may be to provide a golf course capable of staging championship events. In such cases, you need to ask how the intention to attract large numbers of paying spectators will affect the use of rights of way - will there be attempts to close them temporarily while events are staged?
13. Obtain a copy of the proposal, refer to a map and examine the lie of the land. Establish from where the site is overlooked. Pay particular attention to locations to which the public have access and public rights of way. Visit the vantage points and try to visualise the proposal and establish the visible features that will be changed. Try to decide if the end result is likely to be an improvement or a change for the worse. Note your reasons in objective terms.
14. Pick the roads likely to be used by players' cars. Consider if the roads are used by walkers. If so, are the verges adequate? Are there any blind spots?
15. Note any proposals for the construction or refurbishment of buildings. Are such buildings compatible with local styles and materials?
16. Check the defined routes of rights of way across and near the site. Note their maintenance state, usage (check local opinion), signing and waymarking. Look for other publicly used routes. Consider any diversion or extinguishment, which may be proposed by the developer consequent on the approval of the application, or whether the rights of way network could be improved in the light of the proposal.
17. Ask the developer for a course layout plan and for permission to walk the proposed course. Suggest a meeting to exchange views.
18. Assess the safety of the course layout (see above). Note in particular the positions of any golf "hazards" (bunkers, wooded areas, lakes, etc.). These factors influence the direction of hitting. Advice from a friendly golfer would be helpful in this context.
19. Put your ideas to the developer and to the planning and highway authorities. Try to reach agreement that the following will be provided: (a) a map/plan in the club house showing the public rights of way, so all members are aware of them and know that the public has the right to use them; (b) notices at appropriate points warning golfers not to play whilst walkers are crossing and also advising walkers to take care; (c) all rights of way to be signposted at both ends and to be clearly waymarked throughout.
20. Find out if your district or county council has specific polices on proposed development of golf courses. If it does, obtain them, and if they appear unsatisfactory, press for amendments. If it doesn't, encourage it to prepare some.
21. Every authority must set out a Local Development Framework, a portfolio of policies which sets out how development will be managed in the area. It is worth checking to see if there's something of relevance to a proposed golf course in there - particularly if the golf course is proposed for a specially designated area (national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty, areas of landscape importance, green belts etc.).
22. Make an objection if you consider that the development will have an adverse effect on access or the local environment (always object to outline applications on the grounds that the impact of the proposal on the landscape cannot be assessed) or make representations proposing detailed changes and additional access in good time. An 18-hole golf course will cover an area of some 45-70 hectares (100-150 acres). Within that area there is likely to be scope to improve on the existing provision of access to the countryside. Bear this in mind when considering any proposal, and don't be afraid to ask for more.
23. Liaise with local amenity bodies and parish councils. Contact the officer at the district council responsible for enforcement of the Health and Safety at Work Act for sport and leisure facilities. Inform the local press, especially at the early stage, to draw public attention to applications.
Further reading
Planning Policy Guidance: Sport and Recreation PPG 17, The Department of Communities and Local Government.
