Plans to create 'world-class' golf course and accommodation near Fraserburgh move forward

Plans to create a “world-class” 18-hole golf course on the outskirts of Fraserburgh have taken a step forward.

Ground Golf have submitted a proposal for the Mains of Cairnbulg facility to Aberdeenshire Council.

The 88-hectare Mains of Cairnbulg site would include a clubhouse and visitor accommodation.

In a planning statement, the firm said the development will be “more than a golf destination – it will be a place where people, landscape, nature and craft come together”.

The Waters of Philorth run through the site, which also has World War II military structures and is part of the former Formartine and Buchan Way, now a popular walking and cycling route.

Ground Golf is hoping to create a development that responds to the coastal setting and natural environment.

It wants the course to be an “accessible, welcoming environment” not just for golfers, but for walkers, cyclists, swimmers, surfers and those who enjoy the outdoors.

The course has been developed to ensure the dunes, grasslands, and other natural features are all central to its design.

Golfers would tee off from the first hole, found next to the clubhouse at the centre of the development.

The overnight accommodation would be made up of 40 rooms in a guesthouse-style building and individual lodges.

Other guest facilities include a golf shop, bar and dining area, and changing rooms, which would also be located in the central location.

Derelict farm buildings on the site would be demolished to make way for the course.

Greenkeeping and maintenance buildings would also be constructed to store equipment for the upkeep of the course.

Ground Golf say the clubhouse will “celebrate the culture and heritage of Fraserburgh and Aberdeenshire” by showcasing its history, food and drink and artwork by locals.

The firm hopes to bring people together, both on and off the course, by supporting groups, attracting tourists, and creating “lasting opportunities for the community”.

Developers also believe the new course could “act as a catalyst” to attract more tourists to Fraserburgh and the surrounding area.

They say that attracting visitors from home and abroad would help to raise the region’s profile and “reinforce” Aberdeenshire’s reputation as a “key destination within Scotland’s renowned golfing network”.

Ground Golf also want their new course to “complement and strengthen” the already established greens across the region.

Developers previously held three public consultations for the development in Fraserburgh to allow residents to view the plans and answer any queries they may have had.

It is estimated that around 180 people attended the three engagement sessions.

At the last event in April, golf course designer Sam Cooper said the site was the “best piece of golfing land that you could ever come across”.

He also hoped that the Mains of Cairnbulg facility would benefit existing clubs in Peterhead and Fraserburgh.

Invercairn Community Council has already backed the “exciting” plan.

In their letter of support sent to Aberdeenshire Council, the group said: “The construction of a new golf course, facilities and infrastructure can only be of benefit to the local area and economy.

“The potential for this new destination to attract considerably more national and international visitors to the area is huge and will also provide an appealing new development for area residents.”