Sefton Borough Council is to expand its golf offering in the Liverpool region with the development of two new driving ranges.
The new practice facilities will be built at Sefton’s two pre-existing municipal-owned golf facilities, Bootle Golf Course and Southport Golf Links, and will serve to broaden the accessibility and affordability of the game in the region.
Work will start on a new driving range at Bootle this spring, with the facility expected to be completed by the summer. This follows a consultation in 2019 with local residents and golfers who highlighted the importance of new practice facilities and investment in course infrastructure.
Phase two of the project will see a new facility at Southport Golf Links. This has been approved in principle, subject to a consultation in the coming months.The ranges will both include a dedicated coaching bay, with the floodlit facilities enabling participants to practice in the evening.
Sefton Council’s Cabinet formally approved plans to invest £536,360 in the new facilities.The driving ranges are forecast to generate a surplus of over £1m over a 10-year period.
Round and membership prices at both courses have been held at last year’s fees for 2020, with a wider selection of food and drinks available at the on-site golf shops. All existing facilities will remain open to members and non-members during the construction phases.
Plans are also in development to upgrade the buildings at both golf courses to offer improved changing facilities, pro shop, hospitality and food and drink offerings.
Sefton Council is hoping to attract more young golfers to the two courses and will be offering free-play to under 16s for a period later in 2020.
Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said:“Driving ranges are a great facility for people to learn, practice and play golf. The new driving ranges will enhance Sefton’s municipal courses, which provide affordable, good quality facilities for people to enjoy the sport. The project supports Sefton Council’s 2030 Vision and will encourage new people young and old to participate in golf. The surplus the driving ranges are forecast to generate will enable the council to invest further in front-line services.”