Inchmarlo Golf Resort's Laird's Course, looking west (image by courtesy of Inchmarlo Golf Resort).

Inchmarlo Golf Resort

is sold by Shelbourne

to property developer

One of the most popular and successful pay-and-play golf resorts in Scotland has changed hands for an undisclosed sum.

Majority shareholder Jonathan Shelbourne, pictured on the left above with Susan Simpson of the Ladies Golf Union and Inchmarlo secretary Andrew Shinie, said he had sold his entire stake in Inchmarlo Resort and Golf Club, near Banchory to property developer Frank Burnett and businessman Colin Wilson.

Mr Shelbourne, a retired helicopter pilot who started the Inchmarlo complex from scratch with his father-in-law Bob Massie, Deeside, would not reveal the size of his stake in Inchmarlo, which is set amid the wooded, rolling foothills or Royal Deeside, or how much he will collect from the deal.

It is thought other shareholders are in the process of concluding negotiations with the new owners who aim to develop the existing facilities as well as adding a hotel and housing.

Mr Burnett has already lodged plans for an additional 35 holiday lodges at Inchmarlo which features an 18-hole course, a nine-hole course, a 30-bay floodlit and covered driving range, a visitors' restaurant, two clubhouses and villa accommodation with 104 bedrooms on its 100 acres.

The deal announced sees Stanley Troup, the former chief executive and chairman of diversified Aberdeen-based industrial service group Richard Irvin, joining the boards of both Granite City-based Frank Burnett Ltd and Inchmarlo Golf Centre as chairman.

A spokesman for the new owners said: "We will need a period of consolidation. Our immediate objectives will include a programme of continuous improvement for the existing facilities, simultaneous to continuing discussions and negotiations in connection with the enhanced development.'"

He added: "The current economic climate and the impact it has had on other similar projects has been uppermost in our minds as we created our own corporate strategy for the future.
"Various contingencies have been planned to ensure that both our short and long-terms plans can continued to be developed."

+Both Inchmarlo courses were designed by North-east man Graham Webster. The nine-hole course was opened by Paul Lawrie in June, 1997 and the 18-hole Laird's Course in July 2001.

+The villa accommodation already in place represented an £8million investment two or three years ago. It has been a very successful move and gave Inchmarlo Golf Resort the ability to not only stage golf tournaments such as last year's Scottish women's county golf championship finals but also house all the competitors "on site."

+Susan Simpson, the Ladies Golf Union's head of golf operations, visited Inchmarlo last year with a view to playing one of its prestigious tournaments there at a future date.

+With hotel rooms not only at a premium in Aberdeen but also very pricey, the combination of a golf course that can offer accommodation for competitors is a big attraction for tournament organisers.