A north-east golf club is to take over a nearby driving range to create a Buchan golfing superstore.
Dunes Golf Centre in Fraserburgh will officially take over the lease for the Berryhill Driving Range near Peterhead next month.
The current management of the range had lodged plans with Aberdeenshire Council to establish a public cafe in an effort to diversify the business.
But now, the team at the centre, spearheaded by PGA pro Peter Myers, has seized the opportunity to expand their sporting empire.
The plans to revamp the site, which is on the A950 Peterhead to Longside road, will be altered to include a golf studio, superstore and play area.
Mr Myers said: “These are exciting times. We are confident we already offer the best service, not just in the north-east but the best service that is available at all.
“We’re going into Berryhill with a new model. We’ve outgrown our own shop, so we’re looking to build a superstore.
“The north-east is a golfing Mecca – we’ve got an abundance of great courses and members who aren’t serviced outside of Aberdeen.”
Mr Myers insisted the Dunes philosophy was that any player can improve with the help of their training and custom golf kit.
The proposals for the Berryhill site include a studio simulation, where players can get fitted for professional equipment. The range will also incorporate a 50-seat eatery, open to the public as well as golf customers.
Mr Myers is aiming to use the new facility to encourage more female club members to take up the sport in Banffshire and Buchan.
He said the average gender ratio at UK clubs is around 11% female to 89% male. Dunes is working to make a Buchan course one of the first in the country with an even gender balance between its members.
