A SEVEN-FIGURE investment is being ploughed into an Angus business that will see a jobs boost and the creation of the area’s newest golf course in time for the return of The Open to Carnoustie this summer.

Forbes of Kingennie aim to triple turnover and create 12 new jobs over 18 months by expanding and refurbishing existing elements of the business and building a nine-hole golf course and putting green.

The business, launched in 1997 by Angus farmer and businessman Mike Forbes, initially centred on a trout-fishing business but soon expanded into self-catering lodges and a restaurant.

General manager Donia Henderson said, “We are delighted to announce we will be opening our new nine-hole golf course to coincide with the Open at Carnoustie this July.”

The new course, designed to US Golf Association standards, may be extended to 27 holes in the future. As well as the new course, a putting green called the Cairngorms will open in May. “The putting green is quite a challenge and is laid out as a replica of the mountain range, which is unique in Scotland,” Donia said.

The investment includes a major expansion and refurbishment of the Waterside Restaurant and building eight more self-catering lodges, all with four-star VisitScotland accreditation.

A larger 20-bedroom facility, called Kingennie Court, is also being created with the corporate training sector as a target market.

Employee numbers at the business have doubled to 34 in two years and the company said the new developments will require further staff with a range of skills.

Roy Johnston, a business growth advisor at Tayside Business Gateway, said, “We have been able to help the business access substantial grant funding for this development from a range of different sources. This is an exciting, high quality tourism development for Angus and Tayside.”