A new £60m 'pay and play', 18-hole links golf course and an adjacent 220,000 sq ft hotel is planned for North Ayrshire, near Glasgow, as part of plans to revitalise Irvine Bay.

Called The Ayrshire, the resort was put out to tender by the Irvine Bay Urban Regeneration Company (IBURC) and has now secured a joint venture between development firm Credential Holdings and Kintyre Property Trust (KPT) to run and fund the project.

The course is being designed by golf architect David McLay Kidd, whose previous creations include The Castle course in St Andrews and the Machrihanish Dunes at Kintyre. The adjacent hotel will also include a clubhouse, golf shop, spa, restaurant and conference facilities.

Despite being close to the Royal Troon Golf Club and Prestwick Golf Club and Course, the project's developers believe The Ayrshire is in a good position to attract visitors as a public 'pay and play' course, as it's surrounded by private members' clubs.

"We have the opportunity to create a golfing asset which will bring visiting golfers to the area and, importantly, provide the facilities to keep them in this area longer," explained Brian MacDonald, IBURC's director.

Derek Porter, group managing director of Credential holdings, added: "The idea is to also get as many local people involved as possible. Therefore residents with a neighbouring postcode will pay less to play on the course and there will also be a caddie academy to train local teenagers."

There are also plans for a terminal for Lock Lomon Seaplans close to the resort which will further improve accessibility to the area. Should this go ahead The Aryshire would be within minutes of Glasgow, Oban and Loch Lomond.

The developers estimate that 25,000 rounds of golf a year will be played at The Ayrshire, and if each golfer spent £200 locally then the annual benefit to the economy will be around £5m.

"The creation of an outstanding Scottish links course with adjacent leisure developments is an important piece of the jigsaw in developing an exciting and sustainable new future for Irvine Bay, bringing jobs, wealth and opportunity to the area," said Mac Donald.

IBURC, founded in 2006, is working towards revitalising 14 miles of scottish coastline and to develop the seaside towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Stevenston, Irvine and the abbey town of Kilwinning to offer sustainable employment and new investments.

Credential Holdings and KPT intend to submit a planning application soon in the hope of getting the go-head by the end of the year.