July 17, 2013
Wales

Golf club worries over turbine plan

Carmarthen Journal | July 17, 2013 | www.thisissouthwales.co.uk

Cardigan Golf Club says a wind turbine planned nearby could deter tourists who visit the course for its outstanding coastal views.

But the group behind the turbine disputes this.

Golf club secretary Clive Day says the turbine’s blades will cause glare and a flickering effect which will disturb golfers on the 2nd and 11th greens.

He is also concerned the picturesque scenery will be blighted by the 67-metre wind turbine planned for Ferwig.

The Awel Deg project could see the turbine built less than two miles from the golf club, but the plans have been met with opposition from many local residents.

Mr Day said: “We had an engineer look at it and he said because of the way the sun rises in the east and sets in the west there will be a constant glare.

“The other problem is that it can cause a flicker effect, which is like being in a room and the lights are being switched on and off very fast.”

He added: “We’re not happy about it and I know most of the community of Ferwig are not.”

Mr Day said: “We get visitors from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and of course Europe. But this will certainly have an effect on visitor numbers.”

Legendary American sports reporter, Furman Bisher, once wrote: “With the exception of Pebble Beach, the view from the top of the Cardigan course is the finest I’ve seen anywhere in golf.”

Dave Gillam, chairman of Awel Deg, said: “Any object reflects light. But I cannot see that it will put people off playing golf.

“It’s not a glare that’s going to put you off any more than a TV mast.”

He added: “I think how turbines affect people’s views depends on the individual. For example, 75 per cent of the UK population don’t think turbines are detrimental to the view.

“If you go down to Cornwall or Scotland there are turbines there and it makes absolutely no difference to tourism.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/07/17/golf-club-worries-over-turbine-plan/