The Parklands Golf Complex, situated on the leafy 812 acre Gosforth Park estate next to Newcastle Racecourse, is going from strength to strength and has a new general manager in place aiming to drive it on to further success.
Joe Fleetwood, 30, and a former professional golfer, joins Parklands having moved to the North East fromLiverpool. And golf runs in the family, brother Tommy Fleetwood was formerly ranked number one in the amateur world rankings and currently plays on the European Challenger Tour.
During his career Joe has accumulated significant experience in the golf and leisure sector and was a former head assistant professional at the West Lancashire Golf Club.
He was previously the director of golf at Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa in Southport, an established venue on the European Challenge Tour and theUK’s first PGA National Residential Golf Academy. Joe also previously managed a major Tenpin leisure and bowling facility.
Joe Fleetwood, said: “I’m delighted to have taken on the role of general manager at the Parklands Golf Complex. There is a huge amount of potential in the business and I am looking forward to using my experience of the golf and leisure sectors to move Parklands forward, enhance its facilities and service offering and build on the successes the team here have already achieved.”
In the first half of 2011, Parklands has experience some highly encouraging developments and estimates that its total revenues are currently up on 2010 by some 10%.
This has been accounted for in part due to comparatively kind weather but major investments made in redeveloping the venue’s driving range, in addition to the purchase of a Flightscope ball tracking machine for golf club fittings, have prompted a surge in general foot-fall and golf shop sales.
Joe Fleetwood added: “The improvements made to the driving range, which were overseen by Simon Lane the head of the racecourse, which owns the facility, really are superb and it is the best range of any club I have been involve with. The US style mini golf here is also a great experience for families and the range of affordable and varied options that we have really means that at Parklands golf is accessible for everyone, with our newLadiesAcademyalso proving very popular.
“Flightscope is another great addition and its 3D trajectory and spin tracking capabilities make it an invaluable sales tool which ensure our customers go away equipped with the best possible clubs to suit their style of play.”
Simon Lane, general manager of Newcastle Racecourse, which owns the Parklands, said: “Having golf experience myself, previously managing at St Mellion inCornwall, I was keen to recruit the best possible candidate to develop the Parklands Golf Complex.
“Joe fitted the bill perfectly and I am delighted to have him on board. The fact someone of Joe’s calibre has chosen to lead the team at Parklands is fantastic and a great endorsement of the potential the facility has.”
Parklands Golf Complex www.parklandsgolf.co.uk