Lyle Unveils design plans

Scots star’s new Edinburgh course joins list of layouts set to open in coming years

TWO-TIME major winner Sandy Lyle is set to design his first-ever golf course in Scotland, on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

The former Masters champion - whose only previous course design experience is in Germany - is designing a championship course near Edinburgh and  has said the development has the ‘potential to rival any in Scotland’.

Backed by a consortium of British businessman, the development of the 500-acre Kersewell Estate on the outskirts of Edinburgh has received planners’ approval for a 240 bedroom, five-star hotel with leisure and spa facilities, including an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Lyle, pictured.

development

Scotland now has no fewer than seven brand new championship golf courses either under construction or set to open in the coming years. Joining the new Lyle development is the soon-to-open Darren Clarke course, The Angus, at Kingennie, which has been under construction for a number of years, plus the second course at Trump International Golf Links, Scotland - currently on hold - another Martin Hawtree project. The brand new design called The Ayrshire (read all about it on page 17) has no definite opening date as it is looking for funding, plus the private course at Feddinch in St Andrews and the as-yet-unopened GWest, a David McLay Kidd design that sits next door to Gleneagles, are also due to open soon. The formerly troubled Jack Nicklaus venture at Ury Estate at Stonehaven, just outside Aberdeen, is now back on track, according to the Press and Journal, after the developers recently lodged for planning permission. The Nicklaus course would be part of a £40m estate.

Planners for Lyle’s new venture have also been given the green light for a phased development of 250 chalet style villas on the site, which will feature lakes and forestry, an equestrian centre, and other leisure facilities.

With Edinburgh airport less than 30 minutes’ drive from the site, Alexandra Hayward, of Debutesq Group who are handling international sales, believes a new resort hotel is exactly what Scotland needs.

She said: “Scotland is crying out for a resort hotel with conference and leisure facilities on a grand scale and this development will help the country compete better internationally.”

With no date set for work to begin, the owners haven’t ruled out selling the development, but are at this stage interested in engaging with international hotel operators and resort developers.

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