douglas fraserScottish business and economy editor
getty imagesSt Andrews Golf Course, named after the former Prince Andrew, is to be rebranded.
The Duke Course, which is three miles from the University of Fife town centre, will become the Craigtown Course after a nearby country park.
A heathland course opposite the links that dominate the home of golf, the Duke was opened in 1995 by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
He later became captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, based in St Andrews.
getty imagesAndrew has given up his honorary membership as part of his retreat from public life in the wake of the scandal over his close friendship with pedophile and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
The course and club are also to come under the management of the St Andrews Links Trust on a long-term lease.
The club logo is also being changed to remove the Royal association.
An image depicting trees will replace the rampant lion holding a saltire flag.
The Trust already runs seven public courses around the Fife city, including the world-famous Old Course, which hosts The Open Championship every five years.
As of January 5, Duke’s will continue to be operated by golf resort operator Kohler along with ownership of the Old Course hotel.
From then on it would be known as the Craigtown Course.
private property
Following a growing public outcry about his relationship with Epstein, Andrew was stripped of his titles as Duke of York and his status as a prince, and he became Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
As part of that announcement in October, Andrew was also to leave the Royal Lodge and move to another residence at Sandringham, the king’s private estate in Norfolk.
Andrew has also faced calls from Democrat members of the US Congress to testify to the committee investigating Epstein’s activities.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor had not responded to the request by the end of last month’s deadline.
A press release confirmed that the course would receive a “revitalized identity” but did not mention the former prince.
Neil Coulson, chief executive of St Andrews Links Trust, said: “The agreement for The Cragtown Course will add the first new course to the Home of Golf’s portfolio in 18 years and presents an ideal opportunity to expand the golf experiences we provide.
“We are delighted to have reached agreement with The Old Course Hotel and look forward to further building on what is already an important asset for St Andrews and Scotland.”
