There are fears that without new investment Scotland’s iconic golf courses could collapse.
Carnoustie Golf Links hosted the Senior Open Championship and was at its best when it was broadcast worldwide last month.
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But the Angus venue has not hosted the Open since 2018.
And chief executive Michael Wells fears it could lose its reputation.
while talking to messengerHe said: “If Carnoustie does not secure its future as an Open Championship venue it will very slowly, over time, begin to lose visitors and income.
“And it gets to the point where it becomes unsustainable for us to hire that many employees.”
“After that we’ll start to see a gradual reduction in the amount of investment that can be made into golf courses.”
He wants to see a massive transformation of the hotel and spa, which would cost around £100 million.
This could happen after the local council launches a public consultation, which will give local players the chance to have their say on the venue’s future.
Aaron Roy makes his PGA Tour debut in the darkMr Wells wants to change that, which would see the hotel and course brought under the same management.
He said: “I think that, to be clear, Carnoustie Golf Links is not fundamentally a commercial vehicle.
“Its purpose is to protect local interests and distribute funds for local good causes.”
“So we needed to look at the corporate structure and put something in place that could be a vehicle for change.
“These proposals before the council are essentially aimed at achieving this objective,” he said.
“The reason for the change is to ensure the return of the Open Championship and to create a sustainable business.
“We want to ensure local access to golf at an affordable price for future generations.”
“We are also ensuring that charities also get the maximum benefit from this change.
“Golf is going through its biggest boom globally at the moment.
“We’re hoping to see an NFL franchise come to London. We’re hoping to see the Champions League possibly move to the US.
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“The world is becoming much more global. Sponsors want that. TV wants that too.
“We need to make sure we’re staying in the stable and looking outwards, not the other way round. That’s what we want to do for Carnoustie.”
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