PGA European Tour Courses, the leading international golf venue owner, management and licensing company, is to manage a significant upgrade of the golf facilities at Paramount Shrigley Hall Hotel Golf & Country Club, Cheshire, England.
Announcing the news, David MacLaren, chief executive of PGA European Tour Courses, also confirmed that Mauritzberg Golf Club in southern Sweden has been invited to become a Member Venue of Europe’s foremost portfolio of championship golf venues when it opens in 2008. The Baltic Sea residential golf venue is currently in development.
“Paramount Shrigley Hall is a magnificent 19th century country house hotel and, so, it is essential that its golf facilities reflect the same high standards, thereby remaining a sought-after destination for its members, visitors and corporate outings,” said Mr. MacLaren.
“Over the next three years, it is planned that a substantial investment will be made upgrading the course and facilities in order to enhance what is already an outstanding golf venue and resort,” he continued. “The fact that the Paramount Group of Hotels approached PGA European Tour Courses to manage this redevelopment project represents a significant endorsement of our expertise in offering high quality, specialist advice on the strategic, financial, technical and operational elements of successfully managing a championship golf venue business.”
The 18-hole, 6,134-yard, championship golf course at Paramount Shrigley Hall Hotel was designed by Donald Steel and opened in 1989. The resort is 15 miles south of Manchester and set in 262 acres of spectacular countryside on the edge of the Peak District National Park.
The management agreement between PGA ETC and Paramount Shrigley Hall Hotel involves the upgrade of the venue’s golf facilities, including the renewal of tees and bunkers; the lengthening of three holes on the course; improvements to the ancillary and greenkeeping facilities; and the replacement of all on-course signage and tee-furniture. The resort will benefit from PGA ETC’s competitive golf supply agreements.
The agreement represents a move by PGA ETC to develop its management services and is one of three core services offered by the group: the other two are consultancy on a project-by-project basis and their high-profile license agreements, which allow member venues, such as Quinta do Lago in Portugal’s Algarve region, to brand their venues as a ‘PGA ETC Member Venue’ and to avail of PGA ETC’s procurement agreements.
The PGA ETC Group currently owns three flagship international golf venues (Quinta do Lago, Portugal; PGA Golf de Catalunya, Spain; and Kungsà¤ngen Golf Club, Sweden) and licenses its brand to four others (Golf & Country Club Fleesensee, Germany; Linna Golf, Finland; Miklagard Golf, Norway; and Estonian Golf & Country Club, Estonia).
“This is an exciting time for PGA European Tour Courses as we embark on a new period of growth,” continued David MacLaren. “As well as adding more quality Member Venues to the Group and developing and owning our own venues, we will be expanding our management and consultancy activities, to develop and drive business at championship golf venues such as Paramount Shrigley Hall.
“PGA European Tour Courses was founded in 1992 as a joint venture between International Management Group and the PGA European Tour. Our key objective remains the supply of outstanding golf venues that are capable of staging major professional tournaments.
“Today, under the ownership of international businessman Denis O’Brien, PGA ETC also aims to deliver the ultimate ‘Home from Home’ golfing experience to all our Club Members and visitors.”
Heiko Figge, COO of Paramount Group of Hotels, said: “We are looking forward to working with PGA European Tour Courses to enhance the golf experience at Paramount Shrigley Hall Hotel. Our significant investment into the course, combined with PGA ETC’s expertise and support, will strengthen this hotel and its reputation as one of the top UK golfing destinations.”
PGA European Tour Courses www.pgaetc.com
Paramount Group of Hotels www.paramount-hotels.co.uk
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