Since 1990 there have been 24 new golf course openings within 20 miles of the centre of the city of Birmingham. Responding to this massive increase in competition the city has decided to promote play on its own courses by reintroducing the concept of season tickets after a gap of 30 years.
Keen golfers can now take advantage of massive savings thanks to a new annual membership scheme with Birmingham’s ‘Golf Link Circuit’. The city’s portfolio of seven golf clubs comprises Boldmere, Cocks Moor Woods, Harborne Church Farm, Hatchford Brook, Hilltop, Lickey Hills and Pype Hayes. Harborne Church Farm and Lickey Hills were laid out in the 1920’s while the newest, Hilltop, opened in 1979
For £500 a year ‘Gold Golf Link’ membership offers golfers unlimited play on any day of the week on all of the city’s seven council run courses. Even for golfers who play once a week this offer represents significant savings.
For golfers who play mainly during the week, ‘Silver Golf Link’ costs £400 for unlimited play between Monday and Friday. And, to encourage more young people to take up the game, under 18s can now play as often as they want for just £50 a year. “We want to offer young people an enjoyable and healthy alternative to computers and television and golf is a sport that, once hooked, can last a life time”, said Craig Singleton, the City’s junior golf development officer.
“Golfers can buy their season tickets at any time of the year and unlike most private courses there is no additional joining fee,” said Birmingham’s golf manager Peter Howard. “We feel that the prices offer an attractive package to the regular golfer especially as they have a choice of seven courses on which to play.”
The Golf Link scheme also allows golfers to book games up to 10 days in advance, a day earlier than non-members, and have first pick of the best tee-off times.
City of Birmingham Golf www.birmingham.gov.uk/golf