SCOTTISH championship golf course Dundonald Links has been sold for £4.5 million by Loch Lomond Golf Club.

The Ayrshire course, which has hosted the Scottish Open, has been bought by holiday park operator Darwin Escapes.

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Darwin noted that it was, with the deal, acquiring its first resort in Scotland.

The company’s existing golf portfolio includes The Springs in Oxfordshire and The KP Club in Yorkshire.

Darwin said it envisaged creating jobs on the back of planned investment in the clubhouse at Dundonald Links.

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It noted it had recently made a multi-million-pound investment to upgrade the clubhouse facilities and course at The Springs, adding that it had “similarly ambitious plans to transform the clubhouse at Dundonald Links”.

Darwin highlighted its plans to “create a state-of-the-art facility with high quality leisure and dining options and a market-leading indoor golf performance centre” at Dundonald Links.

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The 18-hole links course was designed by California-based Kyle Phillips.

Lindsey Esse, managing director of Darwin Escapes, said: “We plan to make a significant investment to ensure that the clubhouse facilities are worthy of this wonderful course.”

Dundonald Links hosted the Scottish Open in 2017. And it hosted the Ladies Scottish Open in 2015 and 2016.