Stirlingshire is to take centre stage as two local sporting giants team up.
Judy Murray and Colin Montgomerie have announced they will be serving up the first purpose-built tennis and golf centre of its kind in Scotland.
The new centre, which will be built at Park of Keir between Dunblane and Bridge of Allan on land owned by Auchterarder-based King Group, will become a key component of Stirling Sports Campus, which takes in Stirling University and Forthbank Sports Complex.
It will house six indoor and six outdoor tennis courts, a nine-hole golf course, practice range, coaching suites, mini golf, multi-sport artificial courts and a hotel.
The centre has been a long-term ambition for Murray to deliver sporting excellence at the heart of her local community.
She pledged it would make both sports more accessible and affordable for families, especially youngsters.
The British Fed Cup captain and mother of grand slam winner Andy said: “My aim is to create a real community hub that links with local clubs and schools to grow both tennis and golf in the Stirling area and can deliver a pathway to excellence for the most promising players and coaches.”
Golfing legend Montgomerie said the project would help nurture the next generation of Scottish tennis and golfing stars.
“Scotland has a long, rich history in producing golfers and now Andy Murray has single-handedly provided inspiration for a raft of future tennis stars,” he said.
“I think that creating a single venue in this central location where Scotland’s best golfers and tennis players can train together side by side, sharing know-how in a bespoke environment can only benefit aspiring young Scottish sports stars, and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve.”
The announcement was welcomed by Stirling councillor John Hendry, the man leading the city’s bid for the National Performance Centre for Sport.
“These proposals fit well with our commitment to make sport a driver in improving health and wellbeing across society, encouraging all ages, but particularly the young, to become active in sport,” he said.
“Stirling is fast being recognised as Scotland’s city of sport and this announcement strengthens our case for locating the National Performance Centre for Sport in the city.”
A number of public exhibitions will be held during July and August to engage the local community and subject to planning approval, work would start next year.