A GOLF course which closed because of declining membership is to be turned into an upmarket holiday park.
Rutherford Castle, in the Borders, has been bought by developer Richmond Wight Estates after going into administration last year with just 56 remaining members.
The course has been earmarked for a luxury lodge development, including a spa, restaurant, riding centre and children's activity park. Nine holes will also be retained for exclusive use by park's residents.
It is hoped that 100 jobs could be created by the company, which owns three residential and holiday parks in Scotland. Lodges will be priced between £75,000 and £500,000.
Chek Whyte, Managing Director of Richmond Wight Estates, said: “We are very pleased to have concluded this deal to buy the land here at Rutherford Castle and expand our leisure portfolio in a fantastic location well placed for both Edinburgh and Glasgow.”
"We are currently in discussion with local council planners regarding our plans for the site, which already has permission for a 150 bedroom hotel.
We feel that the market is not right for this at the moment but that a full leisure and holiday residential offer of the type we plan to create, will be well received by out target market sectors, creating a viable use for this land."
The owners of Rutherford Castle, housebuilder Bett Homes, had been financially supporting the club, which had been running at a loss for some time.
Set among 150 acres of parkland beneath the Pentland Hills, Rutherford Castle opened on 1 May 1998. It offered par-72 test and was built by Henry Wallace, who farmed the land for 15 years before deciding to fulfil his dream of having a golf course.
Following Wallace’s death in 1999, his family continued to run the club before selling it to property developer Manor Kingdom in 2003.
In August 2008, the company revealed plans to upgrade the facilities and turn it into a world-class, luxurious 5-star hotel and conference facility but those plans never materialised.
Mr Whyte added: “The land here at Rutherford Castle enjoys a very picturesque situation beneath the Pentland Hills. It will make a wonderful location for our luxury lodge and leisure development, bringing new visitors to the area to enjoy this part of Scotland. We believe this to be a huge positive.”
“A park near Edinburgh was our next chosen location and we had been looking at suitable opportunities for some time now. We are delighted to bring the Richmond Wight name to a new part of Scotland. We are all about creating communities.
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