The man behind a £70 million “world class” golf resort in Angus says funding is finally in place following a transatlantic tie-up.
And Mike Forbes is making a last-ditch plea to council bosses to help him get the deal over the line.
The championship course has been designed by former European Ryder Cup captain and 2011 Open winner Darren Clarke.
The proposed development was given the green light back way back in 2010.
However, the course, on land next to the Forbes of Kingennie estate, near Wellbank, has so far failed to break turf.
In 2016 Mr Forbes was given a five-year time extension to build the five-star, golf development, known as The Angus, following a struggle to find the right investment partner, despite two bids from China.
The arrangement gave him two more years to secure a partner and a further three years to settle planning.
The Kohler Group which owns the Old Course Hotel and Hamilton Place in St Andrews was in talks but pulled out because The Angus is not a links course.
However, connections were also made in America and Mr Forbes has revealed a “full blown final unconditional agreement” is now in place with New York-based First Capital Real Estate.
The businessman said a contract had been signed by both parties but he is now seeking a further extension to his planning agreement, due to run out at the end of April 2019.
The move would give them time to assemble a design team, prepare and submit all of the required information.
“This has left us in the situation where we are now applying to vary conditions on consent to allow for an extension of time so that the purchasers can satisfy the conditions and progress towards commencement of development,” he said.
“Assurances that the permission will be extended to allow the deal to be completed would be favourably received.”
The process from introduction to unconditional agreement has taken nearly two years, during which it has emerged that Angus Council and Scottish Development “both contributed considerable finances towards flights, travels and communications”.
Ron Cobb, president of First Capital, has also visited the site and held meetings with stakeholders at the R&A and others.
The business case submitted with the original application indicated that the overall development was likely to generate £19.2 million in total revenue and create additional direct tourism expenditure to the Angus economy of £10m per annum, increasing to £16m after three years.
In addition it is estimated that the development will create more than 130 new full-time jobs.
Bond made during fishing trips
The unlikely tie-up between Mr Forbes and Darren Clarke came about when the champion golfer visited the Forbes of Kingennie resort.
Mr Forbes taught him how to fish.
They formed a tight bond after they discussed how cancer had affected their families.
Clarke’s wife Heather died from cancer in 2006, aged 39.
Mr Forbes son Cammie had battled leukaemia from the age of seven until his younger brother Alistair donated life-saving bone marrow.
Clarke has visited the area several times.
Clarke started playing golf at the age of 11 and earned his first victory in 1993 at the Alfred Dunhill Open.
A long-time member of the European Ryder Cup team, he defeated Tiger Woods to clinch his first PGA Tour win in 2000.
After overcoming the loss of his wife to breast cancer, Clarke won his first major title at the 2011 Open Championship.
Clarke was the 2016 Ryder Cup captain for the event which was won by the USA.
