David Norman and Peter Howell have owned the centre since 2006, but at the ages of 71 and 79 respectively they now have the property on the market at offers over £1.65 million.
Mr Norman says he would be “happy to stay on to work with the new owners if they wanted me”, and explains further below about his background with the operation.
(Image: NQ Staff)
How did you come to own a golf course in Scotland?
We bought Strathmore in March 2006 and have been here 19 years. The then-owner was ready to retire, so put it on the market. Golf courses don’t appear on the market too frequently – especially local ones, so it was a rare opportunity not to be missed.
I moved from the south of England to Alyth, where my sister and family were already in the hotel and restaurant business, and we purchased Strathmore as a family. My brother-in-law Peter and I run the centre on a daily basis.
Why do you do it?
It’s the people, simple as that. At whatever level they are at – whether juniors, seniors, ladies or gents, casual or serious – golf and the golfing environment seems to bring the best out in people, and it’s great to be part of it.
Being an owner/operator of a golf course and rising to the everyday challenges that brings has made life interesting for the last 19 years, to say the least. Developing Strathmore into the fine establishment that it has now become has been rewarding, and latterly, to have been involved with so many professional golfers and the PGA has been a delight. I feel privileged to have been invited to numerous industry events, and being able to savour the moment at every one of them.
How did you prepare for the PGA Fourball Championship?
We continue year-on-year to make improvements to the centre as a whole, and in doing so keep the complex well-maintained and in good overall condition.
Needless to say, an additional effort was put in to ensure that everything was as perfect as possible in order to present Strathmore in the best possible light. The kudos we have gained by hosting the event outweighs any costs incurred. We felt proud and honoured to have been chosen to host the PGA Fourball Championship.
What other competitions have you hosted?
We have held the PGA Scotland 36-hole Order of Merit for the last five years. In the last two of those years that competition was preceded with hosting a PGA Pro-Am. The exposure we received from these events, and the wonderfully generous feedback that the PGA received from their professional golfers, ultimately led to us being asked to host the PGA Fourball Championship.
In 2026 we will again be hosting the PGA Scotland 36-hole Order of Merit competition and a PGA Scotland Pro-Am, and we remain hopeful that we may be invited to host another PGA national competition sometime in the not-too-distant future.
How do this things fit into your overall strategy for Strathmore?
Our plan was always to continue developing all aspects of the golf centre to the best of our ability until such time as we handed over the reins. By reaching the levels required to be hosting such high-profile PGA events, both Scottish and national, we know that we have achieved this.
However, Strathmore still has huge untapped potential for both expansion of the Rannaleroch course and for the development of a resort. Time is against us as current owners, as retirement now beckons, but for any new owners who wish to continue to unlock its potential, the future of Strathmore could be as bright and as exciting as it is now.
What about your other facilities?
In addition to the Rannaleroch course and Leitfie Links, we have a floodlit driving range, a short game area, and a practice putting green. There’s also our well-appointed clubhouse and restaurant.
Designed by John Salvesen, Rannaleroch has been described as “a classic” set in the heart of the Strathmore Valley with hundreds of mature trees and fantastic views. We have also gained a reputation as a friendly place to play golf, and that warm welcome extends throughout the clubhouse.
 How about the numbers?
We are a proprietary golf centre and currently have around 550 members across the board – both casual golfers and serious competition golfers.
Strathmore Golf Club, which runs its competitions as any other member-owned club does, operates within our centre. We work closely with them to ensure that club competitions are well catered for throughout the year, and with healthy competitive numbers in the gents, ladies, seniors and junior sections, that’s a lot of competitions that we must balance against the needs of our visitors.
Access the entire series of Around the Greens here.