Park Hill golf club closes doors without warning
SEAGRAVE’S Park Hill Golf Club closed without warning last Tuesday (January 16), when the gates, clubhouse and pro shop were locked and all staff, including the golf professionals, were made redundant.
Members were left in the dark as to their already-paid fees or the credit on their bar cards. A statement from the members’ committee on the club’s website stated: “We have been informed that any monies outstanding in fees, bar cards etc. are the responsibility of Park Hill Golf and Fishing (Mee’s) and not Park Hill Golf and Leisure (Hutson’s).”
The Mee family were five years into a 10-year lease, signed with the owning Hutson family.
Last Tuesday, the gates, clubhouse, pro shop and changing rooms were locked, meaning members could not recover their clubs and clothes. An email was sent on Saturday morning giving members a two-hour window to collect their belongings.
Park Hill’s PGA head professional Matt Ulyett and fellow club pro Matt Whelband were among staff made redundant.
Ulyett said: “I am very sad and sorry for all the staff, but especially for the members. There is genuine grief at the way this happened with no chance for a last round together or a beer, no chance for friends to have a proper goodbye.
“We are going to have a final ‘Park Hill Party’ on March 24 and I’ll email members with details in due course. We want to have a proper send off with something positive to remember. The situation deserves that at least.”
Speculation now focuse on the future of the facility, which has a championship length 18-hole course a nine-hole par 3 course, floodlit driving range and fishing grounds.
The most intriguing rumour surrounds the possible involvement of Leicester City FC, which at the end of last year had discussions to take over Forest Hills GC in Botcheston to create a multi-million pound training centre to replace the Belvoir Drive facility that has been in operation since 1964.
Several clubs in the area pitched in to help this dire situation. Rothley Park, for example, offered a membership package for Park Hill members and they and others have offered Ulyett facilities to continue teaching his pupils.