ochcarron golfers can look forward to walking from the ninth hole straight to the nineteenth as construction begins on a new clubhouse.

The £116,000 clubhouse for the nine-hole Lochcarron Golf Club will include a small lounge, toilets, changing rooms, a kitchen and an office, and has been made possible after extensive fundraising efforts by the club committee.

In addition to the £23,000 raised over four years from green fees and fundraising events, the committee managed to secure £60,130 from sportscotland Lottery Fund and £33,000 from Ross & Cromarty Enterprise (RACE).

The start of construction was marked today (Thursday 30 January) at a sod-cutting ceremony.  Club Chairman Norman Cameron welcomed the project: "It is superb that all the hard work of the committee and excellent support from sportscotland Lottery Fund, RACE and the Highland Council has allowed us to start this building project. With a fair wind, members and visitors will be able to use the clubhouse for the start of the 2004 season."

Alastair Dempster, Chairman of sportscotland, said: "The new clubhouse is
an exciting project that will be a great asset to the local community.  sportscotland is confident that the construction of this facility will widen sporting opportunities for Lochcarron, encouraging more people to take part in this enjoyable sport."

Gordon Cox, chief executive of RACE said:  "The development meets strong local demand for new facilities as well as making a major contribution to the area's tourism industry, and I am confident it will help the club attract even more members."

The building contract has been awarded to local contractor MacKenzie and MacKenzie who will shortly begin site preparation work with the main building work taking place in the Spring.