Plans to boost Southport’s golfing offer approved by Sefton Council

Sefton is to enhance its golf offer with the addition of two new driving ranges.

New driving range facilities will be constructed at Sefton’s two municipal sites at Bootle Golf Course and Southport Golf Links, broadening the accessibility and affordability of the game in the region.

Work will start on a new driving range at Bootle Golf Course in the spring of this year, with the facility expected to be completed during summer 2020. This follows a consultation in Autumn 2019 with local residents and golf players who highlighted the importance of new practice facilities and investment in course infrastructure.

Phase 2 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 play into the evening on a ‘pay as you play’ basis.

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 any works.

Plans are also in development to upgrade the buildings at both golf courses to offer improved changing facilities, 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, practise 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.”