Club back on market after housing failure

Alistair Dunsmuir
By Alistair Dunsmuir March 31, 2012 12:06

An urban golf course that a developer failed to convert into housing is to be sold as a golfing venue.

Ingol Golf Club, situated just three miles from Preston’s city centre, was shut down by its current owner, Northern Trust, in January 2010 after it had been put up for sale for £1.25 million in 2009 but received no offers. A spokesman for Northern Trust said at the time that the club was experiencing ‘significant financial losses’.

With a few days the company had applied for planning permission to convert the golf club into a housing estate featuring more than 550 properties.

However, due to strong opposition from local residents, Preston City Council, the Planning Inspectorate and the government all rejected the planning application and subsequent appeals, and concluded that a golf course in the area could be commercially viable.

Northern Trust has now seemingly given up on the club and Strutt & Parker has been instructed to sell the venue with either a short or long lease. No guide price has been given.

“The 18 hole, 6,254 yard course opened in 1981 and is laid out on 172 acres of undulating land with many mature trees and wooded areas, with some fairways running between housing areas,” said a spokesman.

“A two bedroom bungalow adjoins the purpose-built clubhouse which makes it ideal for an owner / operator or a manager, and this is a great opportunity for someone to re-brand and re-open the site.

“The property is offered at a premium for a long lease at a peppercorn rent or on a short-term lease at an annual rental.”

The venue also includes two squash courts. A former pay-and-play golfer there said the course needs investment due to drainage issues.

“Local residents have been united over this issue since the very first day. They wanted to see the golf course protected as open green space and retained as a valuable public amenity,” said a spokesman for the Ingol Golf Village Residents Association, which was formed two years ago.

“We never accepted for one moment Northern Trust’s assertion that the golf club was commercially non-viable.”

Alistair Dunsmuir
By Alistair Dunsmuir March 31, 2012 12:06
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4 Comments

  1. Matt February 9, 22:47

    This is great news that Ingol Golf Club is opening again. Ive had so many great days there on and off the course I have lost count. It’s hard not to be biased as a former junior and adult member, but this course is up there with my favourite courses ever, never mind in the Preston area. Ok it had draining and green problems, but te course has great character with some super holes with the 2nd, 11th, 12th and 17th just to name a few. About 11 years ago I played the course when it was staging a PGA event. The course then was in great condition. If the new course could be looked after well then the players will come back. My friends and I personally cannot wait to play it again 🙂

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  2. Ingol Golf Village January 15, 16:05

    Hi,
    Ingol has been taken on by the company formerly behind Lytham Golf Centre (Nevada Bobs and prior to that they had Golf Factory Direct, based in Preston)
    This is an exciting time for the community of Ingol and the north west on the whole.
    Having left Lytham Golf Centre to focus on Ingol, work has commenced and we are seeing some very good progress, the clubhouse has nearly been refurbished, proshop has had a refit and hopefully soon work will the start on the course.
    Lots of work ahead but the future looks bright for Ingol Golf Club, a fresh new image it will incorporate and will now be known as The Ingol Village, the site will works a leisure facility featuring golf course, sports bar, dining, squash courts, function room and a brand new Wifi area.
    To stay up to date with developments and more information, please follow our current twitter account.
    Here you can find up to date tweets on progress and some pictures of how this facility is changing. #jointherevolution

    FOLLOW US – @LythamGolf

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  3. jason westworth January 3, 11:05

    having played on the course many times, i can tell you it did needs some tlc but every time i played there either winter r summer the course was packed. Now trying to book a tee was another story they never answered the phone never seemed interested to me i could tell they were trying to shut the club down and everyone knew about the housing plans before it was published. A crying shame and a joke!

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