£20m family centre to open in Derbyshire

A £20 million golf course is set to open in Derbyshire in less than a year’s time.

The new, inclusive venue will offer affordable golf and be aimed at families – however its construction has led to complaints due to a foul smell.

Swadlincote Family Golf Centre in south Derbyshire has been designed by Colin Jenkins, who already owns several golf courses in the UK and Europe, and last year took over the management of Basildon Golf Course in Essex.

He said the plan is to make the 18-hole course, which should be completed by the end of this year, “fun, accessible for all the family and competitively priced”.

He added that the venue’s driving range should open this spring.

“This will bring golf to the doorstep of so many people and make it so easy to take part,” he said.

“One of the remits here was golf for all, we did not want it to be an exclusive members’ club but something that all the family can enjoy.

“We understand that the game of golf will come as something new to a lot of people but it is our job to show them the benefits and get them enjoying the game as much as we can.

“We do a lot of work with schools and, in other areas of the country, we have a lot of youngsters enjoying golf as part of their school life, something we are keen to replicate here in the future.

“The course has been built to a spec; one that focuses on community golf. It will therefore be pay as you go golf – all people will have to do is turn up and play, although there will also be an option for people to buy season tickets if they want to play more regularly.

“We will be the first to admit we are here to make money but we want to do it by offering the best possible service and the best product so that people keep coming back.”

However, the construction phase has not gone without problems.

The wet weather that hit much of the UK in January and February meant that a large stockpile of fertiliser was not spread on the ground, which meant that neighbours complained of a ‘foul smell’ emanating from the area.

The fertiliser was covered in compost when local residents complained to the council.

A statement from South Derbyshire District Council’s environmental health department said: “Due to the rain the ground was too wet for the contractors to spread the material, instead they stockpiled the approved materials. This may have caused a minor odour nuisance but now the material is covered with compost which should prevent any odour leakage.”

A spokesman for the council added that the golf course will be the ‘final piece in the jigsaw’ for the area.