When the clubhouse at Chart Hills Golf Club was ravaged by fire in September 2005 some members wondered if the venue would ever host a function there again. But last weekend, club president Lord Cecil Parkinson joined the owners of the Leaderboard Group, Paul and Jennifer Gibbons, as Chart Hills hosted its first event in the clubhouse’s new extension.
The black-tie function attracted 130 people and culminated in a cheque presentation to Macmillan Cancer Support for more than £15,000 – a full £6,000 more than any other UK golf club raised for the charity in 2006.
Chart Hills general manager Rod Park said, “The official opening of our rebuilt and hugely improved clubhouse will take place in the summer. This was a presentation evening and was the first opportunity we had as a club to see how well the new extension worked.
“We were all delighted with the success of the evening and we can now start to accept bookings for other functions – indeed we’ve already had enquiries for two weddings. We would anticipate receiving many enquiries in the next few weeks as we were consistently busy before the fire – and the venue is even better now.”
He added: “It is a great testament to everybody at Chart Hills that the golf club has managed to function to such a high standard since the fire – hosting a Ladies European Tour event and two tour school qualifiers – without all of the facilities one would normally take for granted at a championship venue.”
The 2005 fire destroyed two-thirds of the club’s main building, but Chart Hills was open again 48 hours later for a European Tour qualifying school event.
Chart Hills Golf Club www.charthills.co.uk