Turnberry resort set to be sold
Wednesday, 21 May 2008 20:33
Padraig Harrington will hope to lift the Open trophy at Turnberry in 2009
Turnberry golf course is set to be sold as part of a multi-million pound deal involving Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Lesiurecorp.
The Scottish course will host the British Open golf tournament in 2009 at one of its two championship courses.
Starwood, the venues current owners, have agreed to sell the resort to Dubai-based company Leisurecorp for a reported £55 million.
Leisurecorp recently launched the world's richest golf tournament, the Dubai World Championship, and the addition of one of the world's major tournaments now makes them central figures in the game.
The new owners plan to redevelop the resort's famous hotel in time for the tournament in 2009 which Roeland Vos, president Europe, Middle East and Africa, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, felt would enhance the resort's reputation around the world.
He said: "We look forward to completing the sale and working with Leisurecorp to release the full potential of Turnberry.
"The resort has long been recognised as one of the world's most prestigious golfing destinations and following the planned refurbishment of the hotel we look forward to re-launching the property under the luxury collection brand."
Alan Rogers, group chief executive officer of Leisurecorp, claimed that Turnberry was "one of the world's greatest golf destinations" and was looking forward to hosting the Open.
He said: "Next year, Leisurecorp will be involved in an incredible hat-trick of golf tournaments across three continents – the world's oldest tournament, The Open Championship; Africa's oldest tournament, The South African Open; and the Dubai World Championship, the richest tournament in golf. I can promise we will rise to the challenge, showing the golf community just what a great contribution we can deliver."