Dummer golf course is in a prime location on the edge of Basingstoke. It has excellent road access to a large catchment population. Over ¾ million people live within a 30-minute drive time and there is a substantially higher AB population than the national average. Although Junction 7 on the M3 is only 300 yards away the course is in a beautiful stretch of countryside on the outskirts of the charming village of Dummer. The course is in a popular residential area and the cathedral city of Winchester is only 15 miles away.
Mainly built on free draining chalk subsoil, the course opened in 1993 and now has the benefit of ten years maturity. It has been built to a high standard with USGA specification greens. The present owner has invested in a good greenkeeping team and machinery with the result that the course is highly regarded.
Laid out on a spacious gently undulating site of 67 hectares (166 acres), the course has a very pleasant ‘links‘ feel. The course was designed by Peter Alliss and Clive Clark and has a length of 6,403 yards, SSS 71 from the white tees with 3 par 5 holes, 12 par 4 holes and 3 par 3 holes. The course is a good test of golf for all levels of golfer.
Within the course there are two ornamental lakes and two irrigation reservoirs. One holding reservoir contains about 1.5 million gallons of water. This is linked to the irrigation reservoir of around 0.5 million gallons. The reservoirs are fed from a borehole that has recently been overhauled, rewired and reprogrammed. Greens, tees and approaches are all served by an automatic pop up irrigation system.
The course has excellent practice facilities. These include a 250-yard long 10-bay covered driving range, with a custom-built video analysis studio, two practice nets, putting green, chipping area and bunker practice area. All are located close to the first tee and clubhouse.
The attractive clubhouse has a floor area of approximately 770 m² (8,300 sq ft). It is a high quality brick building with flint panels and a slate roof. The extensive car parking is split into four separately screened areas. A security gate operated by a swipe card controls the members’ area.
The clubhouse has been refurbished to a high standard. The ground floor accommodation comprises reception, four offices, pro shop, ladies‘ and gents‘ changing rooms with shared sauna, conservatory, bar, members lounge, function room for up to 60 people and a modern kitchen. There are cellars, stores and a staff WC in the basement.
On the first floor of the clubhouse is a furnished flat with full central heating. It has two bedrooms, living room kitchen and bathroom. The flat has its own separate entrance. The clubhouse manager currently occupies it.
A new greenkeepers‘ building and compound was built about three years ago. Constructed with a steel frame and timber cladding, it provides a large modern machinery store with a separate fertiliser store, wash down area and a completely self contained and fully equipped mechanics workshop with hydraulic lifting gear.
The greenkeepers have a shower and drying room, mess room and office. In the compound there is a diesel tank and a 4-bay material storage area. There is a good inventory of modern greenkeeping equipment. The majority of the machinery and equipment is owned outright.
The club is run as a proprietary members club. At the end of May 2003 there were in the region of 550 playing members. The current full seven-day subscription is £825 with a joining fee of £325. A five-day subscription is £525 with a joining fee of £250. The subscription year commences on 1st April.
The full green fee rate is £30 during the week and £34 at weekends. The club has an active programme of competitions and events. Ladies have equal standing with the gentlemen and mixed trophies and medal competitions.
The current owner employs 15 full-time staff, 3 part-time staff and 4 casual bar staff. The greenkeeping team consists of 7 full-time greenkeepers including the head greenkeeper and a mechanic/greenkeeper.
The membership is the responsibility of the club secretary and the clubhouse is under the management of a clubhouse manager. She currently occupies the managers flat as part of her employment.
The golf shop and the golf range are operated by a self-employed golf professional. He is also responsible for the booking of tee times, competitions and special events. He pays the owner a percentage of ball income as a concession fee.
The owner has invested in many improvements since his acquisition of the club. This has distracted from the management. However, the property is now in a state where, with focused management, the benefits of the improvements should flow through to the business.
The business has been generating sales, excluding the shop and driving range, in the region of £600,000 per annum. This is forecast to increase by about 10% this year. Detailed financial information will be made available to interested parties who have viewed the property.
The property is freehold. The flat is occupied by the clubhouse manager and there is also an agreement with the golf professional to operate the shop and range. The sale will be subject to these agreements of which details will be provided to seriously interested parties.
Offers in the region of £2.25 million are invited for the freehold property and business, fully fitted and equipped as a going concern. Stock in trade is to be taken over by the purchaser at valuation on completion of the sale.
All viewings are to be by prior appointment through the sole selling agents, Strutt and Parker. To arrange this contact Lindsay Flack on 01722 344056 or by e-mail lindsay.flack@struttandparker.co.uk
Dummer Golf Club www.dummergc.co.uk
Strutt & Parker www.struttandparker.co.uk