Huge upgrade planned at golf course with a chequered past
A ROTHERHAM golf course with a chequered financial history could be given a kick-start to a new future under major plans to revamp the site.
Under the proposals, the club house at Grange Park Golf Club in Kimberworth Park would be given an extensive reworking to also serve as an events venue, with five Air BnB rentable accommodation units created in what is currently historic storage barn accommodation from the 1800s.
Other improvements to the course, including work on the entrance, off New Wortley Road and resurfacing the drive and parking area, would be coupled to a recruitment drive to attract new members and develop activities for female members.
That would be designed to put the course and events business on a secure footing for the future, after it plunged into problems with more than £500,00 of debts two years ago.
That situation was addressed when Peter Eyre of Top Play Enterprises became involved.
Planning documents state that a single-stream enterprise of just golf is not enough to sustain the business going into the future.
The Grange dates from around 1970 when it opened as an 18 hole municipal golf course.
It was closed earlier this century by Rotherham Council as a result of cost pressures and then leased to a management company, which ran it until 2023.
A new lease was agreed between Rotherham Council and Peter Eyre, who cleared the rent arrears and now the club has major investment plans for the future.
The site is in the Green Belt, and Rotherham Council will have to address that as part of its process of making a decision on whether to allow the development to proceed.
Planning documents state: “The whole club house has been thoroughly neglected over the years and the proposed business plan is to create a sustainable business focusing on new membership, and continued events which at the moment is gaining momentum due to the internal upgrading and promotions being carried out for the club and with these essential new upgraded additions will ensure the longevity of the club and social hub for the surrounding area.”
They continue: “Our proposals for the change of use of these buildings (barns) will be a crucial enhancement to the existing golf club amenities and contribute to further growth plans.”