Driving ahead with plans for golf course
ANEW golf driving range could be built in Southport as part of a £536,000 investment by Sefton Council.
The council wants to use the money to build new facilities at Southport Golf Links and Bootle Golf Course.
It hopes the move would boost membership at the courses as well as generating £1m additional profit over 10 years.
The plans will go before a meeting of councillors on Thursday, February 27, and if approved will pave the way for the most significant investment at the courses in many years.
A council report on the plans says both sites have suffered from “little or no investment”, sending membership numbers down, particularly among younger players.
It adds: “By investing in these two sites that are located within prime locations within Sefton, there is the opportunity to capitalise on the resource and generate additional income to the department that will help reinvest in the Green Sefton portfolio.”
If approved, the driving range at Southport Golf
Links, formerly known as Southport Municipal Golf Club, would be floodlit, feature 10 bays, including one training bay, and operate from 7am-10pm.
Round and membership prices at both courses have been held at last year’s fees for 2020, with a wider selection of food and drinks available at the on-site golf shops. Existing facilities will remain open during any work.
Plans are also in development to upgrade the buildings at both courses to offer improved changing facilities, shop, hospitality and food and drink offerings, while the council is hoping to attract more young golfers to the two courses and will offer free play to under 16s for a period later this year.
Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “Driving ranges are a great facility for people to learn, practise and play golf. The new driving ranges will enhance Sefton’s municipal courses, which provide affordable, good quality facilities for people to enjoy the sport.
“The project supports Sefton Council’s 2030 Vision and will encourage new people young and old to participate in golf.
“The surplus the driving ranges are forecast to generate will enable the council to invest further in front-line services.”