Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin) (England) Order 2010

Golf clubs manage to deal with rights of way and with members of the public going across their courses, so there is nothing intrinsically new about the coastal path; it does not create a new issue with regard to the law. The natural law of care and concern and the absence of negligence must obtain. A golfer must have some regard to those who are on the path and, by the same token, people on the path are not meant to put themselves into absurd jeopardy with regard to the golfers. The noble Duke, the Duke of Montrose, said, I think, that 137 golf courses have a coastal element to them. I do not know how many golf courses have rights of way but very many do. I could not possibly give the number but I can say that accidents are few and far between. Under the law of the land, proper conduct is necessary so that people are not put at risk. I am simply saying that golf courses cope with rights of way now and I cannot think of any reason why they should fail to cope with regard to the coastal path. Golf courses are different—of course I understand that—but the same features obtain.