A KEY part of the new project at Lochore Meadows is the new golf and sports changing facility which is about 50 yards up from the Park Visitor Centre.

Work started in February and was being carried out by local contractor Hatrick Bruce .

The golf and changing room pavilion benefits from £83,000 of Active Places Legacy Funding from sportscotland alongside £15,000 investment from Lochore Meadows Golf Club, and £25,000 from Fife Golf Trust

The pavilion is home to two changing rooms, a PGA Golf Professional serviced retail area, a lounge area and toilets with disabled access

Both the visitor centre and pavilion will be highly energy efficient and this will significantly reduce energy costs.

The low energy lighting and the under floor heating will make it a very comfortable facility.

The pavilion is now open to the public and is being used by the Meedies golfers.

Park manager Ian Laing sees this as an important part of the way ahead for the Meadows Country Park.

He said: “The golf course has been a much enjoyed part of the Lochore Meadows story for many decades but the support building for the course was basically a wooden hut which the starter used.

“As part of this project the hut is being replaced by this excellent facility which has a professional’s shop in it along with an area which golfers can use for a refreshments after they have played.”

He added: “With the football pitch at King George V Park literally next door two spacious changing rooms have been built which can be used by the footballers playing there.

“There is also the cafe area which can be used by the football teams before their game for meetings etc.”

Anthony Caira, of the Fife Golf Trust who factor the course and facility, said that he had been using the new Golf and Sports Centre for a few days and lying on the edge of the nine hole Meadows course it was an ideal facility for members of Lochore Meadows Golf Club and visitors to use.

Said Anthony: “The view of the course right up Benarty Hill is quite stunning and I am sure that during the summer it will be something that people will really enjoy.

“It gives the Meadows Course its first real clubhouse and it will be something that the club’s golfers will welcome.

“It also makes the course an attractive proposition for visiting parties.”

Chair of Cowdenbeath Area Committee, Councillor Linda Erskine said: “We are hoping to open up golf to the young people of the district and allow them to experience what can be a very enjoyable sport.

“The old hut was no longer fit for purpose and this provides a superb home for the Meadows golfing family.

“The solar panels on the roof provide a very green power supply for the facility and will make it a really carbon neutral building.”

Her vice-chair, Councillor Rosemary Liewald, said that the excellent car parking provision at the facility would also be a big bonus for the Golf and Sports Changing Centre.

“It really is spacious and that will be somewhat different from the old hut which saw people have to walk quite a distance from the car park at either the old park centre or the watersports facility ready to play .

“Also the football changing facility has two very well equipped and spacious changing rooms which will be ideal for the Benarty Astros or whoever is using the facility.”

Councillor Liewald added that it was important that girls were introduced to golf.

She added: “We had a girls’ introduction event at the end of the season with Anthony and it went very well.

“We want to get as many young people involved in playing golf at the Meadows Course as possible.”

Councillor Judy Hamilton, chair of the Fife Council Community and Housing Services Committee, was impressed with what she saw: “This is something which is going to be a benefit to so many people of all age groups and the view from the lounge area is really stunning.

“It will make what is an already well used facility even more attractive in 2018 and it is an important moment for Lochore Meadows.”