Colin Montgomerie's golf course creation takes on 145 staff

THE golf course designed by European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie will hire another 145 staff, it was revealed yesterday.

Managing director Niall Campbell said the jobs, taking the total on site to 175, would be in the clubhouse, hotel and spa at Rowallan Castle Golf Club, at Kilmaurs, Ayrshire.

The course is already attracting golfers from the United States and Scandinavia, he said.

Campbell - who is descended from Campbells of Loudoun, who owned the site from 1690 until the late 19th century - bought the 600-acre estate about 20 years ago.

The course's clubhouse, restaurant and bar are already open and recently hosted a visit for 50 women from Troon golf club. Campbell said: "Rowallan is a modern classic, complementing Ayrshire's existing golfing gems, from Prestwick to Royal Troon and Turnberry.

"New members are joining daily and the momentum is quickly building."

Montgomerie, a native of Ayrshire, worked with European Golf Design (EGD) to create the 18-hole course.

Monty had previously collaborated with EGD on a course for the Carton House Hotel in Kildare, Ireland, which hosted the Irish Open in 2005 and 2006.

The gala opening for the Rowallan Castle course took place last month. Nineteen teams took part in the opening competition, with the money raised being donated to the Elizabeth Montgomerie Foundation, which the golfer founded in memory of his mother after she died of cancer.

Speaking at the time, Monty said: "I'm proud to have designed a course so close to my home town of Troon and delighted to be raising funds for the Elizabeth Montgomerie Foundation, a charity very close to my heart."

The original Rowallan Castle dates back to the 13th century and the estate was the birthplace of Elizabeth Muir, mother of King Robert II, the first Stewart king of Scotland.

The estate was laid out in its existing form by Mungo Mure in 1513 and the "new" castle was added by the Campbell family in the late 19th century.