LEADING holiday park operator Darwin Escapes has acquired its first resort in Scotland.

Dundonald Links, one of Scotland’s finest championship golf courses, has been acquired by the company for £4.5 million from Loch Lomond Golf Club.

The club, which has hosted the Scottish Open, is considered to be among the 100 finest golf courses in the world.

Dundonald Links now joins the growing Darwin Escapes Golf portfolio of golf courses, which also includes The Springs in Oxfordshire and The KP Club in Yorkshire.

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Darwin Escapes has recently made a multi-million pound investment to upgrade the clubhouse facilities and course at The Springs and has similarly ambitious plans to transform the clubhouse at Dundonald Links in order to create a state-of-the-art facility with high quality leisure and dining options and a market-leading indoor golf performance centre.

Darwin anticipates creating a number of new jobs at the resort as a result of its investment.

Darwin Escapes, which is headquartered in Talacre, North Wales, already operates 22 award-winning lodge resorts, holiday parks and golf courses around the UK.

The company is investing heavily across its portfolio. It is currently investing over £1m at its Talacre Beach Resort including upgrading the resort’s clubhouse and accommodation facilities.

Earlier this year, it unveiled a major transformation of its Norfolk Woods Resort & Spa, which it acquired in 2017.

Lindsey Esse, managing director of Darwin Escapes, said: “We are delighted to have acquired our first resort in Scotland and for it to be the prestigious Dundonald Links, which is much loved by golfers around the world.

“We plan to make a significant investment to ensure that the clubhouse facilities are worthy of this wonderful course.

“Darwin Escapes prides itself on outstanding levels of service and quality and I’m sure that this acquisition will only be positive for members and visitors to Dundonald Links.”

Dundonald Links is situated in the heart of Ayrshire’s golf coast, close to Troon. The 18-hole championship links course was designed by Kyle Phillips.

The course hosted the Scottish Open in 2017 and the Ladies Scottish Open in 2015 and 2016.