Former Open champion to take over the running of another popular golf facility in the north-east
Paul Lawrie has taken steps to transform a once-liquidated north-east golf facility by bringing it under the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre branding.
The 1999 Open champion, pictured below, was approached by the current owners of Inchmarlo Golf Resort near Banchory, 12 miles down the River Dee from the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre in Ardoe, to see if he could put his own stamp on the facility, which becomes the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Inchmarlo effective of May 1.
It will include the recently-reconstructed nine-hole Queen’s Golf Course, the 22-bay driving range, a short game area that needs developed as well as a revamped shop, with Lawrie very enthusiastic about plans for the future.
“We are excited about the potential for the range and course at Inchmarlo,” said Lawrie. “It’s a place I know well, having spent many hours here in the past working on my game. The view from the range is beautiful so it’s just a great place to spend time and the course is an excellent test with lots of character.”
The resort, which also included an 18-hole course, restaurant and luxury self-catering villa accommodation, has endured significant struggles in recent years. In February 2013, it was placed in provisional liquidation after experiencing trading difficulties with 25 of the 30 staff losing their jobs.
However, on April 1, 2013, it was reopened on a ‘reduced scale’ by Inchmarlo Land Company (ILC), with the nine-hole course and driving range rescued, but the 18-hole course wasn’t owned by ILC so wasn’t part of the deal.
“I understand there has been some talk of redevelopments to the larger site with a hotel possibly being planned but that’s nothing to do with the area of Inchmarlo that we’ll be looking after,” the Paul Lawrie’s Foundation’s Michael Macdougall told bunkered.co.uk. “The older 18-hole course is overgrown at the moment and it’s certainly not part of the facility that we’re involved with.
“The Inchmarlo site complements what Paul already has at the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre and it’s a model that Paul likes and works well, especially with the Paul Lawrie Foundation connection and the Academy. The original Paul Lawrie Golf Centre site has been transformed over the past four years into a top class facility and the potential is certainly there for Inchmarlo to become something similar.”
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