 Former golf greens at Askernish are common grazing land now |
Crofters have threatened to bunker a plan to restore an island golf course to its 19th Century glory days. The Askernish course in South Uist was originally designed by legendary golfer Old Tom Morris in 1892.
Following a visit by experts last December, there is now a plan to restore the Western Isles' nine-hole links course to 18 holes.
However, a number of crofters fear it will mean losing rich common grazing land and have opposed the proposal.
Old Tom won The Open championship four times - a feat matched by his son Young Tom Morris.
He is also regarded as possibly the greatest course designer - helping to design 60 courses worldwide.
Askernish is a par 67 nine-hole links course but it was discovered that it had been laid out over the original 18-hole course designed by Old Tom.
Following a visit by golf course consultant Gordon Irvine to Uist last December, the club agreed to return the course, as far as possible, to the original design.
The transformation could bring a tourism bonanza with golfers worldwide desperate to tick off as many Morris courses as they can.
It has been forecast by supporters of the project that a Morris trail could be as lucrative to Scotland as the well-established whisky trail.
However, there has been opposition from crofters who worry that restoring the nine holes lost when a now defunct aerodrome was built will mean sacrificing common grazing for their cattle and sheep.
The Crofters Commission, which is taking a neutral stance on the matter, hopes to arrange a meeting with the 11 to 12 shareholders in the grazing to gauge how many are opposed and what their concerns are.
 Crofters fear livestock will be forced off the earmarked land |
David MacLeod, of the commission, said: "The chance for economic growth has to be welcomed or at least considered.
"But there are real concerns from some of the crofters on the impact on their grazing rights.
"These rights have to be addressed at a very early stage rather than the crofters feeling they are being railroaded."
The club, meanwhile, hopes to have the course fully restored within a year.
Askernish is one of about 50 courses Old Tom, who was born in St Andrews in 1821, designed.
The golfer and his son Young Tom remain the oldest and youngest winners in the history of The Open championship.
Old Tom won four Opens in the 1860s and was aged 46 when he won his final championship.
Young Tom was the first winner of the present-day Silver Claret Jug trophy after three previous wins, being only 17 when he won his first Open.
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The chance for economic growth has to be welcomed or at least considered
