An 18-year-old youth's passion for golf has really paid off - his businesswoman mother has bought him a golf course, reportedly for several million pounds.

Aaron Howard wants to dedicate his life to the game and hopes to become a professional golfer.

So his mother, Heather, 53, sold up the family business and bought a timeshare complex in Spain - complete with 18-hole golf course.

Aaron, from Aberfeldy, Perthshire, now practises his swing in the sunshine when he visits his mother at El Bosque, near Valencia, in eastern Spain.

Back at his Scottish home, Aaron tries to improve his handicap of seven with regular coaching sessions at the Perth Golf Range.

The range's senior professional, Mr Kenny Nairn, a former professional at the prestigious Gleneagles club, said: ''She bought the complex for him to hopefully take it over and become a golf professional. He's certainly mad keen.

''Heather's husband died over a year ago and after she sold their timeshare business in Scotland she set up in Spain, she moved there about eight months ago.''

Now, Mr Nairn says, Aaron has signed up for an educational course with a view to running the golf course, for which his mother reportedly paid #4m.

The 450-acre site includes an equestrian centre and has planning permission for 100 units and a hotel. It could one day host a European Tour event.

The course has already been played by golf stars Ian Woosnam and Jose Maria Olazabal.