A MILLIONAIRE American businessman yesterday unveiled plans for a #50m golf development for St Andrews, writes John McEachran.
Dr Donald Panoz hopes to build a luxury 240-bedroom hotel, two 18-hole golf courses, and teaching and practice facilities in the town. The development will also include 80 executive lodges.
Dr Panoz, at a special private briefing attended by councillors and officials, the St Andrews Links Trust, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, and community groups, revealed one of the designers of the two courses would be American golf legend Gene Sarazen - now aged 96.
The tycoon said his company, St Andrews Bay Development Ltd, had bought the 360-acre Kingask Farm, two miles east of St Andrews, and adjoining land for the project.
He said he hoped the development would be completed in time for the Open Championship in St Andrews in the year 2000, with restricted play on the two new courses.
Mr Sarazen has already advised Dr Panoz on the design of two prestigious developments in the US - the Legends Course at Atlanta, Georgia, and the Legends West Course in Diablo Grande, California.
Expected to create more than 300 jobs, the St Andrews scheme will overlook the harbour.
It was welcomed yesterday by Fife Council convener Mr John MacDougall, who said it would reinforce the seaside town's position at the forefront of world golf. He added: ''Its potential is extremely exciting.''
Dr Panoz, founder and chairman of the Ireland-based Elan Pharmaceutical Company, is owner of the Chateau Elan resort, near Atlanta, Georgia, renowned as one of the most elegant destinations in North America. He is also known for the Panoz Automotive Manufacturing Company, which produces classic sports and racing cars.
Cupar planning firm, Montgomery Forgan Associates, and Dundee architects, the Parr Partnership, are to design and supervise the hotel and clubhouse construction.
St Andrews-based Mr Iain McKinnon, the company's European operations director, said: ''The whole essence of the project is quality and it will be unique in Scotland.
''It will include Scotland's largest conference hotel, a facility which tourist officials believe is vital to the country's tourism industry as a whole and to Fife in particular.''
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