It was confirmed today that the US Open and Olympic champion has acquired Cromlix House Hotel, close to Dunblane. His plans to transform the elegant Victorian mansion into a 15-room five star destination will create up to 40 new jobs for the local community and generate significant custom for other businesses nearby.

Following extensive refurbishment, the Perthshire hotel is scheduled to re-open next spring, ahead of the 2014 Ryder Cup, which is being staged a short drive away at Gleneagles.

Commenting on his new venture, Andy said: “I am pleased to have acquired Cromlix House and look forward to securing its future as a successful business.

“By re-establishing Cromlix as a leading luxury hotel at the heart of the Dunblane community we will be able to attract new visitors to the area, create a number of new jobs and focus on supporting other local businesses. I’m pleased to be able to give something back to the community I grew up in.”

The hotel will be managed on behalf of Andy by Inverlochy Castle Management International (ICMI), who already manage eight other renowned independent properties around Scotland, including Inverlochy Castle, near Fort William, Greywalls Hotel in Gullane and The Atholl, in Edinburgh. ICMI’s group of industry experts includes Albert Roux OBE, KFO, owner of Le Gavroche in London, the first UK restaurant to be awarded thee Michelin stars.

The refurbished Cromlix House will boast a Chez Roux restaurant offering fine dining using locally sourced produce. With Chez Roux’s very reasonably priced menu Andy hopes to attract diners from the Dunblane and Stirling area, as achieved by the brand elsewhere in Scotland.

Previous owners, the Eden family, who ran the hotel for more than 30 years said they were delighted the venue was staying in local hands after completing its sale to the tennis champion. A popular wedding venue over the years, Andy’s brother Jamie married his Colombian wife Alejandra Gutierrez there in 2010.

Situated in beautiful countryside, less than five miles from Dunblane, Cromlix House is set in 50 acres of secluded woodlands and garden, with an attractive trout loch. The hotel currently has 14 bedroom suites, a chapel, reception hall, two drawing rooms, conservatory, dining room, library and meeting rooms.