From todays Scotsman :
Golf club for rich tees up 350 jobs
ALAN RODEN
MORE than 350 jobs will be created by the end of the year at a new multi-million-pound golf course in East Lothian, it emerged today.
The £55 million Archerfield Links, which is owned by Edinburgh pub tycoon Kevin Doyle, will be a private members-only club with two high-quality 18-hole layouts.
The Gleneagles-style redevelopment of the 540-acre Duke of Hamilton’s estate between Gullane and North Berwick will also include a five-star hotel, a spa, 50 holiday cottages and 100 luxury homes, and is expected to eventually create more than 500 jobs and raise East Lothian’s profile as a golfing Mecca.
Paul Lightbody, director of golf at Archerfield, said: "This is a substantial investment in the Scottish economy and we expect the area to benefit from the new employment opportunities and the associated revenue generated by additional visitors to the area.
"In addition to our commercial investment, we are also investing heavily in attracting new staff to East Lothian. To help provide truly great service to our exclusive new clubhouse we require a number of professional, motivated staff. As a result, our training programme will provide a first-class opportunity for many people to develop their careers in the hospitality, leisure and sports management sectors."
The new golf course is set to become one of Scotland’s most expensive. Members will be asked to pay a one-off £15,000 fee on top of an annual charge of £1000.
Bosses at the new development say the massive joining fee is an investment in the East Lothian course which members can get back if they ever decide to leave.
If the club reaches its target of 1000 members within the next three years it will have made £15m from the joining fees alone.
Archerfield has already opened one of its two championship courses, the Fidra Links, and the membership rates are not putting people off - buyers from as far afield as the US, Thailand and Hong Kong have now signed up.
Mr Lightbody said: "This is a truly spectacular venue and while we expect significant interest internationally, our core membership is likely to comprise businesses and individuals from Scotland and elsewhere in the UK.
"We are well ahead of our target for debenture sales at this stage and expect this interest to rise further when the main house opens in May and the second course - Dirleton Links - opens in September.
"We have undertaken a painstaking restoration of this landmark in association with Historic Scotland and East Lothian District Council and the golf courses have been meticulously designed to make best use of the area’s natural features."
Mr Doyle has built up a powerful empire in his journey from Leith-born builder to millionaire club and pub owner. The successful businessman now owns the Dome and Ryan’s Bar in Edinburgh.
But his latest project is likely to be his most successful, and experts have predicted it could attract the Ryder Cup to East Lothian within the next 25 years.
Archerfield has spectacular views of the Firth of Forth and Fidra Island - the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.
Named after the English archers who camped there during King Edward’s invasion of 1298, the site has also hosted some of the most influential figures in British history.
In the 16th century, part of the estate was given over to golf with Mary, Queen of Scots among the visitors.
And shortly before the First World War, British Prime Minister Herbert Asquith, a resident at Archerfield House, summoned Winston Churchill to Archerfield where he appointed him First Sea Lord.
Course designer DJ Russell, a former European Tour professional, said: "East Lothian already boasts a series of world renowned courses, but we believe Archerfield will be the jewel in the crown. The two courses will provide a fantastic challenge even to the professionals."