Drumoig focus of global sales drive

Gordon Berry, The Courier, 8 November 2004

The extensive multi-million- pound leisure facilities at Drumoig, near Leuchars, are to be at the centre of a world-wide marketing campaign as Dundee-based owners Torith seek either a joint venture partner or an outright sale.

At the weekend it was made clear that the hotel, golf course, former Scottish National Golf Centre building, and the driving range are all to be offered in the wider leisure market.

All of these elements, which cover around 300 acres of land, were brought under the direct control of Torith, which is also responsible for the extensive residential development at Drumoig, in March of this year.

As the plans were announced, it was also revealed that the 1995 plans to create a 150-bedroom hotel, 20 corporate villas and a further two lodges have been dropped and the emphasis for future development is now firmly on further permanent homes.

The news came from the managing director of Torith, Ian Mathers, who said both the existing hotel location and the setting of the specialist golf practice facilities offered great potential for further development.

“Recent approaches over the summer months, with several interested parties, has made it clear to us there is a demand to further develop the site,” he said. “Given recent changes at various golf hotel leisure developments in the area such as the St Andrews Bay Complex, the Old Course Hotel, St Andrews, and Letham Grange Golf and Country Club, we believe there is undoubted further potential for Drumoig.”

Mr Mathers said specialists Creevy Licensed Leisure & Hotels had been appointed to find either a joint venture partner or purchaser for the 300- acre site. The firm had, he said, been instructed to market the site locally, throughout the UK, and overseas as part of an international campaign.

In addition, said Mr Mathers, hotel management consultants would be working with resort management and staff to generate increased business in the lead-up to next year’s Open Championship at St Andrews.

“We have reached a stage where additional investment is crucial to sustain the existing employment on the development and provide additional jobs by creating additional country club facilities at the hotel.

“Further investment is also required to develop the full business potential of the golf academy building and the specialist external practice facilities, which may be suitable for alternative leisure or business use.”

He said the marketing drive would be taking place alongside current residential development proposals to update the 1995 outline planning permission. But lack of demand for holiday residential development had necessitated a change to further permanent residential, he added.

“In addition to providing critical support to the golf hotel business, this is also a sustainable proposal to utilise the infrastructure investment already included in the drainage and road systems provided on the estate. Proposals have been submitted to Fife Council as part of the local plan review process and we expect our application for the first area of Pickletillum H2 will shortly be ready for formal submission.

“The continued development and integration of the residential, hotel and golf course leisure facilities are seen as a key ingredient to the unique country living environment created at Drumoig.

Drumoig is a major economic contributor to the north Fife economy and provides employment to more than 100 people throughout the development,” he said. Drumoig Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Torith Ltd, the Dundee- based construction, civil engineering and development company.

The last nine years had seen a £30 million investment, said Mr Mathers, and the creation of a new community had reflected residential activities in prehistoric times, recorded in the “scheduled monument sites” scattered throughout the development.

He added that the presence of a large site of special scientific interest (SSSI) had also been sensitively integrated into the golf course, along with the creation of lochs and water features, extensive structural planting and the underground diversion of unsightly overhead cables.