“It’s time to pass the business onto a new owner who can put their stamp on it”

Two of the three men who have owned Strathmore Golf Centre in Scotland for the last two decades are now set to retire, and they have placed the venue up for sale. They talk about their hopes for the future of the facility.

It’s been an eventful 20 years heading up Strathmore Golf Centre in Perthshire, Scotland, for businessman, David Norman, along with his business partners, Peter and Simon Howell.

Interestingly, the three businessmen came to own the golf centre, which has two golf courses at its heart, the par 72, multi award winning 18-hole Rannaleroch Golf Course, together with the par 27, nine-hole Leitfie Links Course, never having owned a golf business before, and with none of them having actively pursued golf as a hobby.

Also part of the centre is a 10-bay floodlit driving range, additional practice facilities, and a popular in-house restaurant.

With David and Peter now looking towards retirement, the trio have made the decision to pass the baton on to a new regime.
Coming to golf ownership ‘green’ so to speak, has certainly not held the three partners back, as over the past 20 years, they have ensured that Strathmore, which sits in nearly 80 hectares of picturesque Perthshire scenery, within a strong transport network connecting to Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh, has been continuously developed to its highest potential, achieving accolades at the very highest level.

Their most prestigious PGA tournament yet, the UK PGA National Fourball Championship Final, was held in August last year. The first time the event had been staged in Scotland since 1989, it attracted national television coverage. Add to that, Strathmore Golf Centre achieved the Scottish Golf Tourism Award as Best Golf Course in Scotland in category in 2016, 2017, 2021 and 2023, and was shortlisted in 2021 for Best Customer Services – All Golf Courses in Scotland. Not bad indeed for David, Peter and Simon!

As for the hospitality you’ll find in this family owned and operated facility, whether golfers, restaurant visiting customers or PGA professionals coming to play leading tournaments, all have been subject to the same care, attention and personal touch from the owners and their team. With their backgrounds in hospitality, and owning The Lands of Loyal Hotel, a successful four-star hotel near the golf centre, David, Peter and Simon have applied the same guidelines that ensure success in hospitality to the golf centre.

They have employed committed and experienced staff, they have built up the restaurant offering, and they have ensured competitive pricing is at the heart of the business.

All of this has certainly paid off, over the past two decades, with the business becoming a well-known destination day out, as well as a top location for hosting professional golfing tournaments.
“I have to pay tribute to Peter, who is now approaching 80 years of age. The 20 years he has spent at Strathmore are really 20 years that most people would have had as retirement already. He really has put his heart and soul into this business, but is ready to retire now, as am I,” said David Norman.

“We’d love to find new owners for this business which we feel we’re leaving in the best shape possible,” continued David. “A few years ago, we were granted outline planning permission to develop a range of on-site leisure facilities and tourist accommodation, but we didn’t get the opportunity to follow it through. We felt that adding a leisure and accommodation offering to the golf centre would widen its appeal,” he explained. “We are in the process of reinstating the outline planning permission to add it to the sale portfolio.”

Under the previously achieved outline planning permission was the development of a new or extended clubhouse, alongside a 30-bed sporting lodge, complete with gymnasium, hot tub and jacuzzi.  Additionally, 34 luxury chalet style self-catering lodges, spread over three locations across the site, were also included in the planning proposal, along with a separate Manager’s House.
“We would be delighted if our golf centre was purchased by someone who already had a golf business, and wishes to keep golf as the primary focus, adding a larger clubhouse, sporting lodge and other new, modern facilities, which can only benefit the overall offering, and would make Strathmore even more competitive and sought after,” said David.

Peter Howell added his comments, saying: “I have loved my time here as an owner at Strathmore Golf Centre, and I’m really proud of what myself, David, and Simon have achieved here. It’s time to pass the business onto a new owner who can put their stamp on it.”

Peter finished by saying: “We’d be happy to speak to any potential new buyer, and pass on our advice and wisdom, and support them during the transition to new ownership. New investment in this beautiful part of Perthshire would be very welcome, as would the creation of new jobs here at the centre.

“We want to leave Strathmore Golf Centre with a future legacy. That would be the best possible ending for us as owners.”

Strathmore Golf Centre is for sale with Colliers for offers in excess of £1.65 million.
Email: Robert.Smithson@colliers.com 
Tel: 07825 171652