Owners of the resort want to create a new championship-grade course from the existing 18-hole Torrance and Kittocks courses.

St Andrews Bay Development, which bought the hotel and resort in 2019, has applied for permission to Fife Council to carry out the extension and engineering operations at St Andrews Bay, Kingask.

A statement in support of its application said: “The vision is to create a world class golf course which could become one of the top 100 courses in the world.

“Such a move would enhance the hopes of attracting European Tour events.”

It added: “The creation of the championship course would be the first phase of the overall upgrade of all golfing facilities on the resort.

“At present, the two existing golf courses are outstanding tests of golf and the resort, as a whole, is a well-established asset to the St Andrews and Fifewide economy and tourism sector.

“As golf course design, technology and maintenance of golf courses have evolved, there is an opportunity at St Andrews Bay to adjust and remodel the courses to establish the location as one of the ‘must-play’ courses in Scotland and the world, with the aim being to draw golfers from around the world.”

The existing courses were built on farmland, and in order to create the authentic Links experience, it would mean importing sand for the fairways.

Some holes would also be remodelled, and tees and greens created.