Barrelfield Golf and Barrelfield Construction, leading UK golf course management and construction companies, have announced their merger to form one organisation – 360 Golf.
The creation of 360 Golf will place both companies’ extensive expertise under one brand, allowing a single senior management team to offer an unrivalled portfolio of solutions to the golf industry – featuring a full range of golf management, design and construction and consultancy services.
360 Golf director Melvin Thomas, one of the founders of Barrelfield Golf, said, “This is an exciting development for a company which has been supplying successful and innovative business advice to the European golf market for 15 years.
“We’ve become a multi-talented golf company with a broad range of knowledge and expertise – including the design and build of courses and clubhouses, the management and operation of golf clubs, and the provision of sales, marketing, membership and financial advice to golf businesses in our consultancy role.
“By forming one new company, we expect 360 Golf to grow even faster and it makes it easier for the senior management team to market our services, which we believe are unique in the European golf industry.
“Given that we exist to help our clients achieve their ambitions, our customers will also find us easier to deal with, and combining the two halves of our business means that we will be sharing our internal resources far better.”
Barrelfield Construction was formed in 2000 with the specific remit to build the course at the exclusive Queenwood Golf Club, on the outskirts of London, for the renowned US developer, Fred Green.
On the management side, Barrelfield Construction was involved in many aspects of this multi-million pound project – finding the land and assisting in the purchase, compiling and submitting the final planning application and assisting in the project management.
The Surrey-based company has also been instrumental in helping to launch a number of other top courses, including Caversham Heath GC, the first UK golf course to open in the new millennium.
Director Peter Townson said, “360 Golf has an enviable track record in helping golf course developers bring their projects to fruition, whatever the budget. But as club management consultants we also offer private, proprietary and municipal golf clubs a range of solutions designed to help them grow their profit and establish their businesses on firmer financial footings.
“This can be a simple health-check on the way a club is running, to total operational management of the business. We respect the traditions of the game and golf and the industry in which we work, but we are not afraid to challenge historical methods and conventions by asking ‘Is there a better way this can be done?’”
Barrelfield Golf was set up in 1990 by Mel Thomas, Paul Wright and Andrew Richardson, three golfing acquaintances with vast financial, greenkeeping, real estate and marketing expertise. Said Thomas, “We realised that between us we had the experience and expertise to offer a wide range of sound business advice on the development of golf. Very quickly, we established the company as the leading provider of design, construction and project management services in golf.”
To coincide with the launch of 360 Golf, Robert Clive – former manager of Leaderboard Golf’s flagship course, The Oxfordshire GC – has rejoined the company as a director.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to become an integral part of a company which is truly imaginative in its approach to help those involved in the golf industry to achieve their dreams,” he said. “Our clients can be assured of receiving honest, considered and appropriate advice, designed to maximise their opportunity – whether that is to set-up, improve or even sell their business.
“We have successfully developed our golf consultancy services outside the club environment and into other areas of the golf industry. No other company in golf is able to offer such a comprehensive range of services, and I am delighted to be rejoining at this hugely exciting time.”
As part of the merger, the Barrelfield Golf Network – a reciprocal playing rights scheme which offers the members of 25 clubs free golf at the other clubs – will become the 360 Golf Network.
360 Golf Limited www.360golf.co.uk
360 Golf offers a holistic approach
