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[Sam L4]

Are you actually having a laugh?

This is from the Evening Express:

Aberdeen could become home to the world's top golf course in a new £10 million plan.

The huge project would see Hazlehead's number one course completely redesigned.
And the scheme would include a new club house, complete with indoor swimming pool, holiday villas, a golf academy and other modern facilities.

It would be called The MacKenzie Club in tribute to the man who designed hundreds of international courses; including Augusta, home of the US Masters.

The revamp, which would create 30 jobs, would see the new course soar to the top of the world rankings.

A consortium of North-east and US businessmen are behind the radical proposals.

And they plan to call on golf legend Tom Watson to spearhead the redesign of the course.

s of the Atlantic, lined up to offer advice, the group behind the bid are certain it would make Hazlehead the place golfers from all around the globe will want to visit.

The consortium are also offering to meet all the costs and still allow the revamped course to stay in the hands of Aberdeen City Council.

Brian Hendry, chief executive and spokesman for MacKenzie Club Ltd, which is made up of five affluent Scottish businessmen and five USA-based investors, said: "We want this to be the people's golf course as well as the best one in the world.

"We are the ones taking the risk, it won't cost Aberdeen City Council a penny.

"We are also making a cast iron guarantee that the course will remain open to everyone in Aberdeen.

"I was born in the city and come from a working class background. The last thing I want is Hazlehead to become some sort of private club open only to rich golfers."

The MacKenzie Club will pay the ?10m costs to carry out the revamp, but only if they get a 99 year lease giving them control of the number one course and new club house in return.

Mr Hendry said: "We would install our own experts to make sure it is properly run to get a return on our investment.

"We won't make anything off the green fees on the other courses or from the council season tickets, so we believe that is reasonable."

The club also promises to make 80% of tee times open to ordinary golfers in the city.

Letters outlining their plans were delivered to existing Hazlehead Golf Club members today.

Mr Hendry added: "The other top courses in the world are privately owned, so it is harder for ordinary people to get a game on them.

"Around 90% of the locals in Augusta, USA, for instance, have no chance of ever getting on their local course. We want it to be the other way around in Aberdeen.

"That is why we guarantee that the first 80% of memberships would go to the people in Aberdeen.

"We would still have to let visitors play because that is where we would make our money.

"But we would work closely with the council and existing Hazlehead members to make sure the booking system introduced is as fair as possible."

Mr Hendry has been in talks with council officials for more than a year and has also made a presentation to Scottish Executive officials. in Aberdeen last week.

Golf courses are rated on design, condition, location and facilities. Pine Valley, USA is current number one. The consortium accepts the council is MacKenzie Club accepts the Council are duty bound to put the bid out to tender if they decide to proceed.

"That wouldn't worry us," said Hendry.

I fucking love Golf and play all around Aberdeen - but this is just stupidity.

[Paulscoconutass]

Yea, what a pile of shite... although it's a pretty good spot for a course, with all the shelter n'all but they already have tournaments in the Royal Aberdeen course now and again, Plus, the first Hazelhead course is inferior to the second and it's about time they changed it. Probably means the price for a round will rocket.

[Sam L4]

It's just that bit 'Hazlehead will match Augusta' makes me piss myself. Its basically like saying 'lets host the open at Auchmill instead of St Andrew'. I'm sure Tiger Woods would approve when neds ran out from the bushes to steal his ball.

[daveofficer]

sounds like a good deal to me. the course would still be council owned and open to all but would be a lot better and provide more jobs and a boost to the local economy. what's to moan about it?

okay the EE may be going overboard but there's nothing wrong with a bit of hope is there? it's so crazy it just might work.

and what's the point in saying the number 1 course is inferior to the number 2? how is that relevant to what it's going to be like when they've finished redesigning it?

[Sam L4]

It does sound like a good deal but it is never going to work. Simple as.

[daveofficer]

Originally Posted by Sam L4

It does sound like a good deal but it is never going to work. Simple as.

i concede to your logical and well presented argument sir. well done on a wonderous presentation conducted with great skill, research and above all, sound reasoning. sheesh.

[Sam L4]

Why thank you.

Waste of money. Why not spend it on coming up with a design for cheap, easily built and maintained housing - not fucking high rises

Improve public transport, sanctions against first....

[Uncle Mog]

Well, its actually totally funded by a private consortium so its not gonna cost us anything so where's the problem? If someone wants to put £10m into aberdeen without any need for council money why the negativity. thats the problem with aberdeen, good ideas are ALWAYS complained about by half the population

[Johnny Mac]

I think it would be great if they ever get the project off the ground!