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tourism's new driving force

With four new golfing centres on course for the North-east, the region is teeing up for a new global tourism experience which will also bring new hotels, new homes and a whole new leisure experience.

With almost 60 million golfers around the globe creating an industry worth $10 billion, the North-east is perfectly poised to grab a major stake in that lucrative tourist market with four new world class courses teed up.

Plans for the development of Hazlehead Golf Course, estimated to be worth £100 million, are likely to taken a significant step forward later this month with tender negotiations between Aberdeen City Council and the Mackenzie Club expected to be concluded.

The MacKenzie Club, headed by Aberdeen businessman Brian Hendry, is aiming to lease the course from the city council and invest heavily in the No1, No2 and nine-hole courses, create a new clubhouse and five-star hotel, build time-share accommodation and establish a Professional Golf Association academy to promote the game.

Councillor Kevin Stewart chairman of the Hazlehead advisory and monitoring board said: "The board believes there is a good deal on the table that is right for the course, right for local golfers, right for the city council and right for Aberdeen."

"Hazlehead is one of the jewels in Aberdeen's crown but it has suffered from under-investment for many years. We believe The MacKenzie Club is the vehicle through which we can make a vast improvement and turn the course into one in which the city can take great pride.

"The redevelopment will put the course on the global stage and draw people from all over the world to Aberdeen as a golfing destination."

The historic Hazlehead Golf Course was created by the designer Alister MacKenzie who also laid out the home of the US Masters, the Augusta National.

Integral to the plan for the course is the first installation in Europe of an "air-conditioning" system to maintain soil and grass temperature at the optimum level.

Meanwhile discussions are continuing between the Trump organisation and Aberdeenshire Council on the American developer's plan for a £1 billion resort on the Menie estate at Balmedie.

The Scottish Government gave outline planning permission for the development in December and during a visit to the site last month George Sorial, Trump's right hand man, said he expects the physical work to begin in the second half of this year.

The development includes two golf courses, a 450-room hotel, 36 golf villas, 950 holiday homes and 500 houses.

It is estimated the resort will boost the region's economy by £50m a year and the Scottish economy by a further £12m, with 6000 jobs created during construction and 1200 on completion.

Work is now underway by FM Developments on renovating historic Ury House at Ury Estate near Stonehaven. The mansion will become a hotel and the focal point for the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club resort which was approved by Aberdeenshire councillors last June. Work is also scheduled to begin on the "back nine" course at Ury.

Additional hotel accommodation will be situated to the east of Ury House in a hotel annexe with reception and bar area.

Golf lodges designed in the style of traditional Aberdeenshire steadings are also in the plans, along with woodland planting and landscaping adding to the estate's stunning scenery.

The housing, which will fund the restoration of Ury House, will be in four hamlets peppered across the periphery of the estate. There will also be a range of leisure facilities including historic trails for walkers, runners and cyclists which open up access to Ury House, the Roman camp and Barclay family mausoleum; a shooting range; an equestrian centre; fishing ponds; tennis courts; children's play areas; picnic areas; wildlife trails and viewpoints overlooking the scenery; and a cricket/rugby pitch.

Progress is also being made on the development at Blairs where former Open champion and local hero Paul Lawrie is designing a course for the Muir Homes development which centres on the restoration of the former Catholic seminary which closed 22 years ago.

The lynchpin of the proposals is to re-use the listed, main buildings as a luxury four or five star hotel. The complex will include at least 150 bedrooms, health club, and restaurant and conference facilities.

By helping ensure the future of the Blairs Museum, along with the creation of new sporting facilities, such as fishing, clay shoots, curling and horse riding, the development will increase tourism in the local area, which will help the local economy.

Muir Homes plan to build 280 houses and a further 60 affordable homes.

Over the 10-year period of the development, capital investment will be £115million and will support an average of 212 full time equivalent jobs for the duration of the project.

A spokesman for the Muir Group said: "Paul Lawrie's signature golf development at Blairs College received the welcome news that it will not be called in by the Scottish Government in late 2008. The Muir Group is currently progressing the detail of the course with the Paul.

"Concurrently we are also in talks with high profile hotel operators to kick start works on the entire project with an official announcement on the chosen hotel partner anticipated in the early part of this year."