Wylie hopes to tee off a top golf hotspot at Close House

Mar 6 2009 by Kim Carmichael, The Journal

A NORTH East businessman has spoken of his hopes to develop the region into a golf hotspot, hosting top tournaments and attracting players from across the world.

Whitley Bay-born Graham Wylie yesterday announced that a £7.5m development at Northumberland’s Close House Hotel and Golf Course has been given the go-ahead and now the entrepreneur has shared his vision of the future of the sport in the region.

Former Newcastle University student Wylie, best-known as the founder of computer software firm Sage, told The Journal: “The North East isn’t currently well-known for golf. However, I feel that we could make this region somewhere that people would come to and spend time playing golf – we could develop into a golf hotspot.”

The development, which will create more then 100 construction jobs and employ 30 full-time staff once finished, saw planning permission given for several new projects, including a championship-standard golf course, a golf academy, a new clubhouse and a driving range, all of which it is hoped will attract golf enthusiasts from around the world.

For Mr Wylie, the project, based near Heddon-on-the-Wall, also represents another chance to continue supporting the region he loves.

“All of my businesses investments are here in the North East,” added the 49-year-old father-of-two. “I retired from my job at Sage in 2003 and invested everything back into the North East.

“I live here and it is what I know. I have always thought it is best to keep investment in the region. I purchased Close House from the university a few years ago as more of a donation to say thank you for my education than anything else.