A HOT new venture will mean golfers putting away the poppadoms when they reach the 19th hole at one club.

Peterstone Lakes Golf Club in Wentloog is believed to be the first in the UK to have its very own curry house, The Cinnamon Tree.

It will be the third restaurant from the South Wales chain The Cinnamon Group, which will also run the club's conferencing, wedding and banqueting facilities, and will provide a unique bar menu for the club's 600 members.

Bodrul Hussain, one of the group's directors, who plays off a handicap of 11, explained how the new eatery teed off.

"I've been a member of the club for 11 years now and it always struck me that the area didn't seem to have many Indian restaurants. When the idea came up we thought it was a fantastic opportunity and we're confident it will become the perfect 19th hole," he said.

He believes the idea of a tikka massala or a vindaloo after 18 holes is something which will catch on.

"We expect a number of golfers to use the facility, which will be a good building block for the business, but our main aim is to attract non-members from Newport and as far east as Monmouthshire, as well as from the Cardiff area."

It is not the first time he and his fellow directors Ruman Uzzaman and Amran Uzzaman have made unusual business decisions.

Mr Hussain said: "When we opened in Treforest on an industrial estate many people believed it was the wrong location. However, seven years on it has been a great success."

Between 10 and 15 people will be employed at the new venture, which is opening on Saturday.

Mr Hussain said: "We will be looking at opening new outlets in the near future." Leading Welsh golfer Bradley Dredge was in "flavour" of the new venture. He said: "I think it's a great idea. I love Indian food. I think it should go down very well."