US tycoon John Imlay leaves £2 million to Scottish charities

AN AMERICAN tycoon has left around £2 million to charities in Scotland after falling in love with the country's golf courses.

John Imlay

Multi-millionaire John Imlay, a software engineer, spent around four months of each year at his North Berwick home, so he could play golf.

The businessman died of a heart attack age 78 in March last year.

He left a bulk of his estate to the Imlay Foundation and it will distribute around 10 per cent of its £20 million to charities in Scotland.

His estate in Scotland is worth an estimated £2.6 million.

In an interview before his death, My Imlay said: “My two passions are Scottish golf and American football. I began coming over here 30 years ago. I knew my name was Scottish and have traced my family roots back to Skene, just outside Aberdeen.

“I’ve stayed here for years and I’m a member of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers at Muirfield, Royal Troon, the Royal and Ancient Loch Lomond and North Berwick.

“I come over every March and open up the house until September and have friends visiting from the States all the time to play golf.

“We play two rounds a day on some of the best courses in Scotland.”

In 2011, Mr Imlay donated £500,000 to build up to 20 ornate bridges on Scottish golf courses.