Get Golfing has confirmed the sale of The Bristol Golf Club for an undisclosed sum to an associated company of Masters Golf, the market-leading golf accessory supplier in Europe.
“Having acquired to site from Crown Golf last year, we carried out a comprehensive review of the facility and its potential development in the autumn of 2021,” Get Golfing Trustee Ian Timberlake says. “It became apparent to us that the site offered huge scope to transform the club into one of the standout golf, accommodation and hospitality venues in the south-west. While recognising the potential, the scale of the task meant that we did not believe we were the best-suited owner of the site. Although Get Golfing invests significant sums into its sites, the reality was that the wide-ranging opportunities were beyond its remit as a golf-promoting charity.
“Portishead-based Masters Golf, however, is the perfect suitor for the site. It has a demonstrable passion for the game, having worked with the Golf Foundation, the R&A and PGA Tour as well as with First Tee (www.firsttee.org) on both supply agreements and philanthropic activities.
“Get Golfing’s management team firmly believe that, with the support of the local authority, The Bristol will become known as a high-quality golf course and as a recognised commercial entertainment venue that includes overnight stay accommodation making use of the recently upgraded hospitality suites.”
In the year that Get Golfing owned and operated the club, the membership grew by 38% as it improved the condition of the course. Tony Crook, Men’s Captain at The Bristol, says that the turnaround in the condition of the course since Get Golfing took over has been remarkable: “All credit must go to Dave Taylor, the Course Manager, and the Get Golfing team whose expertise and support was really noticeable. I will be sad to see Get Golfing go, but am also really excited about the plans the new owners have.”
This Get Golfing sale follows two recent acquisitions in the Ansty Golf Centre, near Coventry, and Arkley Golf Club, near Barnet, and the publication of strong trading figures in 2020. Other sites in its portfolio include Hampton Court Palace Golf Club, The Club at Mill Green, Pyrford Lakes, Redlibbets Golf & Country Club, Sherfield Oaks and Warley Park.