Scottish golf club faces huge bill after discovering protected species

A popular Scottish golf course is facing a significant bill after the discovery of protected species on its land.

Melrose Golf Club, home to a historic course in the Borders, was recently found to be home to great crested newts. The amphibians are a European protected species and their eggs and breeding sites are protected by law.

That means that Melrose will now be required to introduce a new program that will not enable both the nine-hole course and the habitat of the species to be maintained.

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It includes purchasing new efficient green-keeping machinery, as well as investing in the necessary habitat maintenance and development and ecological surveys.

Of course, all this won’t come cheap. As first reported by the Border Telegraph, the Scottish Borders Council will be asked in a William Hill Trust Sub-Committee to support the protection of the species with a grant of just under £24,000.

A report to said meeting read: “Melrose Golf Club is requesting support to carry out the necessary ecology surveys, preparation of habitat management plans, habitat development works, and the purchase of new more efficient green-keeping machinery to allow green-keeping staff time to maintain the habitat and the golf course going forward.

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“The grant from the William Hill Trust Fund will pave the way for Melrose providing the necessary habitat for the protected species of great crested newts, while allowing green-keeping staff the necessary time to continue maintaining the golf course to the appropriate standard to provide its service to the community.

“The discovery of the great crested newts has come about following unauthorised rehousing of the species on the land associated with the golf course.”

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.