Burhill Golf and Leisure, the golf and property management company has stormed into The Sunday Times PricewaterhouseCoopers Profit Track 100, which ranks Britain’s 100 private companies with the fastest-growing profits.
The group, which operates 10 UK golf courses and is privately owned by the Guinness family, has seen profits rise 47% a year from £1.8m in 2005 to £5.8m in 2008.
Combined with property and marine interests, the business has invested significantly in its three successful members’ clubs and seven pay-and-play golf centres, upgrading courses, clubhouses and introducing a loyalty card scheme held by 40,000 golfers.
The group is now taking its successful formula into the wider industry and is launching consultancy services for golf courses aiming to increase profits, as well as taking over existing businesses and managing them on behalf of owners.
“This is a company that is making golf work,” said Burhill Golf and Leisure CEO, Colin Mayes. “The Burhill formula is focused on high quality golf courses, operational efficiency, outstanding customer service and close working relationships with our trading partners to deliver quality standards to all our members and customers.
“This is a professionally run, profitable golf business – and we are now looking to expand our operations to deliver consultancy and management services to golf clubs and courses.”
Burhill Golf and Leisure owns and operates some of the most successful golf courses in the UK, including the prestigious Burhill Golf Club in Surrey, Aldwickbury Park Golf Club in Hertfordshire, plus two of the South East’s busiest pay-and-play centres, Hoebride Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey and Birchwood Park Golf Centre, near Dartford in Kent.
As well as golf, Burhill Golf and Leisure, which was established in 1926 to manage the estates of the then Lord Iveagh, owns a diverse property portfolio. The company remains busy in property development and is currently looking at opportunities within this sector as well as hotels. Acquiring additional golf course businesses is also a stated aim for the business.
“Much of my professional life has been spent in the hotels and hospitality industry, so when I moved into golf I was amazed at the lack of consistency and quality I saw in many golf course businesses,” continued Colin Mayes. “The UK golf industry is littered with poorly managed, unprofitable courses, which are on their knees.”
Colin Mayes added: “While I am happy with the results and progress Burhill Golf and Leisure is making, recognised in The Sunday Times PricewaterhouseCoopers Profit Track 100, I feel we could be of significant help to many struggling golf courses and their owners, putting them back on the track to increasing customer numbers and profitability.”
Owned privately by members of the Guinness family, Burhill Golf and Leisure Ltd was established in 1926. Originally Burhill Estates Company Ltd, the Company was formed to manage the estates of the then Lord Iveagh, one of which was Burhill Park, home to Burhill Golf Club.
Burhill launched into pay-and-play golf in 1982 with the building of Hoebridge Golf Centre on an estate near Woking, Surrey. The high demand for affordable, ‘no commitment’ golf led to huge success at Hoebridge and the decision to develop further into the pay-and-play golf market. Since 1992 Burhill Golf and Leisure has acquired seven more centres and, in 2006, the Company purchased Aldwickbury Park Golf Club and Redbourn Golf Club in Hertfordshire.
Burhill Golf and Leisure Ltd is now one of the largest owners and operators of golf in the UK. The Company operates across 10 sites and its success is a tribute to its people who constantly strive to provide quality, service and value. In addition, the Company owns and manages a large and mixed-use property portfolio. As a property driven leisure business, Burhill Golf and Leisure Ltd is committed to further expansion over the coming years through a combination of property purchase and strategic business partnerships, both with the private and public sectors. www.burhillgolfandleisure.co.uk
Burhill Golf and Leisure Ltd centres and clubs:
- Burhill Golf Club, Surrey
- Aldwickbury Park Golf Club, Hertfordshire
- Redbourn Golf Club, Hertfordshire
- Abbey Hill Golf Centre, Buckinghamshire
- Birchwood Park Golf Centre, Dartford
- Hoebridge Golf Centre, Surrey
- Ramsdale Park Golf Centre, Nottinghamshire
- The Shropshire Golf Centre, Telford
- Thornbury Golf Centre, Bristol
- Wycombe Heights Golf Centre, Buckinghamshire