Plan to spend millions on Carnoustie Golf Hotel extension
The owners of Carnoustie Golf Hotel and Spa are planning to spend millions of pounds redeveloping and extending the Links Avenue property. Their current plan under consideration is to add an extension creating 25 additional bedrooms to the existing 100-bedroom hotel.
Carnoustie Golf Heritage and Hospitality Group Limited (CGHH) acquired the property in September 2023. Since then, millions of pounds have been spent refurbishing the ground floor of the venue.
The hotel’s pool and spa, reception, function suites and bar and restaurant areas have all been improved. Work will start on refurbishing bedrooms later this year.
Angus Council transferred the day-to-day management of Carnoustie Golf Links to CGHH last year. Part of this process saw the group pledge to invest heavily in the hotel facilities, in the hope of securing the return of The Open tournament.
For the first time, CGHH has confirmed this will likely take the form of extending the existing hotel rather than demolishing the property and building a new hotel.
Chief operating officer Ross Blackadder said:
“The building belongs here. A new build would have replaced something with genuine character.
“Instead, we’re taking what exists and elevating it to a luxury standard.
“Various improvement works have already been completed, including upgrades to ground floor bar facilities and the swimming pool and spa areas.
“Future phases will include refurbished guest rooms and further enhancements designed to deliver the quality international visitors expect from a leading global golf destination.
“The ambition is clear: world-class service, exceptional facilities and a seamless connection between luxury accommodation and championship golf.”
Mr Blackadder said the decision to extend the hotel had been reached following an extensive review and taking specialist advice. The footprint of the extension and the timeline for this has still to be decided. This would be subject to being granted planning permission. He said an extension – which will cost several millions of pounds – is the prudent financial decision.
“It’s about getting the balance right between ambition and reality,” he said.
“It’s possible we could have knocked down the hotel and rebuilt it with another 50 or 100 bedrooms.
“But would that have been a sustainable project given that we are a seasonal business?
“The extension and upgrades of the existing hotel represents a significant investment and a commitment we are taking seriously.”
The first phase of work upgrading existing bedrooms at the hotel will start this autumn. The work will see 15 bedrooms upgraded at the cost of around £50,000 per room. The refurbishment will create larger bathrooms, better heating controls and upgraded entertainment systems.
Meanwhile, work is continuing to try to secure a long-term lease for the operation of Carnoustie Golf Links from Angus Council. The current lease only runs until 2033 and Mr Blackadder hopes this will be resolved “sooner rather than later”.
CGHH opened a new bar, Maxi’s, in Carnoustie last month after a nine-month fit-out.
This article appeared in the Courier on 16 June 2026