More golf clubs to build lodges

Emma Williams
By Emma Williams October 30, 2013 11:48

Three more golf clubs have announced plans to build holiday lodges on their courses.

Celtic Manor Resort in Wales has begun a £4.3 million development including the building of 10 new lodges, The Lincolnshire Golf Course has applied for planning permission to build 24 lodges and Falmouth Golf Club in Cornwall has planning approved for a multi-million pound project to build 48 lodges.

Many golf clubs are keen to build lodges overlooking their courses, which are then sold or let out to tenants as holiday homes.

Celtic Manor Resort, host of the 2010 Ryder Cup, hopes to open the 10 homes in Easter 2014 and, if successful, aims to build 50 more.

Each one will include four double or twin bedrooms and will overlook the 16th and 17th holes of the Twenty Ten course, where Graeme McDowell won the Ryder Cup for Europe.

The fully-furnished cabins will all have open plan living areas with high windows and ceilings, and including lounge, dining and kitchen spaces, plus their own sauna and outdoor decking with a covered jacuzzi.

Celtic Manor Resort’s chief operating officer, Ian Edwards, said: “These high-quality lodges are aimed at families who want the space to kick back and relax for a few days or a week.

“These lodges will be built to the resort’s five-star standards.

“Outside of the school holidays, we also see the lodges being popular for golf groups, corporate incentive trips and spa breaks. There is even a spare room in the lodges which could be converted into a spa treatment room, games room or children’s den, depending on the visitors at the time.”

Meanwhile, Jonathan Lamb, owner of The Lincolnshire Golf Course, has applied to Belton Parish Council to build 24 lodges on his course to provide accommodation for visitors.

If successful, 10 of the homes could be open by next summer.

Targeted at families, with a children’s play area also set to be built, the idea has received warm support from the council.

Mary Worrall, a member of the parish council, said: “A lot of people seem to be doing this sort of thing with golf courses. He is trying to diversify the service he is offering.

“We were in favour of the proposal because it would bring jobs and extra tourism – which could lead to more revenue.

“I am pleased it would be for non-golfers as well, because it will bring more people in.”

Dave Ripley, another member of the parish council, added: “I can see no reason why this project shouldn’t go ahead.

“I should imagine that guests using the lodges would come into the village for provisions, which would support our two shops.

“I assume that people playing golf will be the ones staying there, but the area is pleasant for walking so there could be others too.”

And building plots for 48 new luxury homes across two sites at Falmouth Golf Club have now gone on sale.

The development will see a redesign of the course to make way for the houses, and will fund clubhouse and car park improvements.

David Hughes, owner of the golf club, said: “There has been considerable interest in these two sites and discussions are continuing with a number of parties.”

“As long as we can still play golf here I don’t think anyone is worried,” said one member. “They’ve been talking about it for donkeys’ years so it’s good to see something happening at last.”

Another, Bill Berks, added: “I’ve been a member here for 50 years and I play golf every day. The housing scheme has never been particularly controversial with us golfers – we’ve been kept informed and everyone I’ve spoken to thinks it’s a good thing. It will certainly be good to sort out the car park.”

Nick Jones of property firm Savills said: “This offers significant cash flow benefits. A condition of the planning permission is that the seller will provide a major new clubhouse overlooking the sea, with extensive function facilities and improved parking and landscaping. This will significantly improve the quality of the food and beverage offering, the function facilities and the club environment.”

Several clubs have built lodges on their course to boost cashflow in recent years.

For example, earlier this year The KP, in Yorkshire, opened 12 high-end woodland villas by its 18-hole championship course and plans to build another 24. It already had 10 woodland lodges that have enabled The KP to grow the weddings, functions and corporate side of its business.

 

Emma Williams
By Emma Williams October 30, 2013 11:48
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3 Comments

  1. CMM Golf Recruiter (@GolfRecruiter) October 30, 15:31

    Our client @TheCelticManor is one of a few clubs diversifying their service offering by building lodges on the course http://t.co/oaJME2uflx

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  2. 19th Hole Social (@19th_holesocial) October 30, 12:58

    #Golf #Panthersocial More golf clubs to build lodges – Three more golf clubs have announced plans to build holiday… http://t.co/EDSlIdma1X

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  3. 19th Hole Social (@19th_holesocial) October 30, 12:28

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