Darren Clarke designs first golf course

Former Ryder Cup player and prospective Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke has partnered with a Scottish firm and launched his foray into golf course architecture.

The 2011 Open Champion has joined forces with Team Niblick - a specialist golf course design and build company based in Inverurie - to construct a championship course near Carnousite, Scotland.

The 18-hole course will be the centrepiece of a luxury five-star resort, Wyndham Grand The Angus, located adjacent to the Forbes of Kingennie Coutry Resort just outside Dundee.

Clarke has been working alongside Graeme Webster - one of Scotland's most respected golf course architects - on the design, with construction due to start in 2013.

"It's been exciting to work with Darren as he and I share similar views on what makes a golf course challenging, rewarding, exciting, fun and thoughtful to play," said Webster.

"Darren - who has lived up to his image as a larger than life character - has brought his vast experience as a professional golfer to our discussions.

"His focus is on risk and reward, strategic shot choices and, surprisingly for a man that can propel the golf ball huge distances, his vision was not on the total length of the golf course."

The course and golf academy - which will sit alongside a five-star hotel and spa in the beautiful Scottish countryside - are scheduled to be completed in Autumn 2014, with the full resort set to open in 2015.

"The landscape at the location of Wyndham Grand The Angus is absolutely perfect for the creation of a world class championship golf course," said Clarke.

"This will be a world-leading resort in the heart of the home of golf and I cannot wait to strike the first ball."