The UK may be in recession but in a scenic corner of East Lothian members of one of the country's most exclusive sporting establishments are enjoying the high life.
The Renaissance Club, which lies on 300 acres of the Duke of Hamilton's Archerfield Estate, is the new neighbour of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, better known as Muirfield, which is to host the Open Golf championship in 2013.
The course opened last April. When bonds conferring 30-year membership first went on sale those desiring entry had to pay £26,000 for the privilege.
Yesterday, anyone wanting to buy one would have had to stump up £45,000. To date 136 golf lovers from around the world have joined.
Members include some big names from global business. Bob Diamond, head of the Barclays Capital investment banking operation, is one.
John Imlay, part owner of the Atlanta Falcons US football team, is another. Baseball legend Roger Clemens could have been spotted on the course earlier in the week.
Jerry Savardi, the 60-year-old American entrepreneur who was the driving force behind the club's establishment, said: "Everybody who has walked with us on this course has said - wow!"
The course was designed by Tom Doak, a US-based golf architect renowned for venues like Pacific Dunes in Oregon in the USA. In the longer term, the Savardi family plan to build a bigger club house and additional lodges with 100 bedrooms.
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