Scottish golf faces financial shifts and visitor concerns

Scotland is known as the birthplace of golf, with a history dating back to the 15th century. The sport has grown significantly and continues to attract interest worldwide. Recently, The Scotsman has launched a series titled "Scorecard: The Business of Golf," exploring the financial aspects of golf in Scotland. The series highlights the increasing role of private investors and the challenges faced by the sport today. In the first part, it revealed that a group of investors has taken control of the famous Carnoustie links. They plan to manage the course, which has hosted The Open eight times, well into the future. In the second installment, the series focused on the investors involved. This group includes a private investment firm with offshore ties, a count’s son from Austria, and a powerful figure from British tennis. Their diverse backgrounds raise questions about the future direction of golf management. The series also covered concerns at St Andrews, a historic golf town. Local golfers have expressed worry that the iconic courses are facing overuse. They are calling for a limit on the number of visitors to preserve the integrity of the game.