A CROFTER has demanded £2 million from a world-famous golf club to give up his right to graze his sheep and cattle on its pristine greens.
Kenneth Hassall has shares in land on part of the prestigious Royal Dornoch golf course, meaning he has the right to graze livestock on it.
Part of the exclusive course lies within the ancient common grazings of Hilton of Embo, near Dornoch, Sutherland, which has existed under crofting law since the late-1800s.
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Mr Hassall, who lives in Embo, has now demanded £2m from the historic club to give up his grazing rights.
But the club is valuing the affected land at just less than £33,000.
The area, covering 93 acres, takes in five holes of the championship course.
The crofter, who says he has 150 sheep and 20 cattle, claims that he and other local crofters are “short of land”.
Mr Hassall and the club were due to meet in court in June but he says the golf club’s representatives withdrew from the case.
Mr Hassall said: “We would be entitled to exercise our rights on the common grazing and we are short of land.
“We got our valuation from a reputable firm, Strutt and Parker. The club got its valuation and a court date was set for June 14.
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“But it withdrew just a few weeks before. If it was confident that its valuation was correct it would have let the judge decide.
“We were prepared to go ahead and let the judge decide.”
The affected land was sold by the Sutherland Estate to the club in 1972, but the common grazing rights did not come as part of the deal.
Mr Hassall received his valuation of the land in December 2014, with it being said to be worth £1,974,962.50.
However, the club only valued the land at £32,965, and refused to pay the amount to Mr Hassall.
In the time since, the club has agreed financial settlements with other crofters who have grazing rights on its land, leaving just Mr Hassall to settle.
The crofter’s fresh claims come as the prestigious Carnegie Shield got under way at Royal Dornoch which has stunning views over the Dornoch Firth.
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Some locals are unimpressed by Mr Hassall’s stand.
Jim McGillivray, a local councillor who lives in Embo, said: “I find it deeply regrettable that anyone would think to interfere with the operation of what is Dornoch’s fundamental economic driver.”
Royal Dornoch Golf Club declined to make a comment on the matter.
The golf course often attracts celebrities, most recently the Wales and Real Madrid footballer Gareth Bale who played a round there with two old school friends recently.
Famous golfers to have played the course include Jack Nicklaus and Ernie Els. Former US president Bill Clinton has also enjoyed a round.
The current golf club was established 139 years ago in 1877, and was awarded its royal status in 1906. The design of the Championship Course is attributed to Old Tom Morris.
Former Ryder Cup captain and Open winner Tom Watson is an honorary member.
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