Blue Mountain Golf Course in Bracknell is to stay open until at least 2016, while its owners, Luff Farms Ltd, seek planning permission to build up to 450 houses on the site.
The operation of the golf course and driving range at the Binfield-based venue has been taken over by golf management company Neil Dainton Golf Consultancy Ltd, whose owner, Neil Dainton, helped manage Blue Mountain when it was under the ownership of American Golf over a decade ago.
“Reports of Blue Mountain’s demise are premature,” said Mr Dainton. “My colleague Steve Coles and I ran it for 10 years and we are absolutely delighted to have been given the opportunity to extend the life of this fantastic golf course for local golfers use.”
He added: “Furthermore, the driving range has been leased for a minimum of five years, so golfers will still have a fantastic practice facility for years to come. We are currently offering seven-day access to the course for just £500 until April 30, or until the course closes, which represents outstanding value.”
The driving range, which offers 33 bays and a 350-yard floodlit outfield, is open every day from 7am until 7pm.
The decision to sell the land for housing was met with strong local resistance, however the green light was given when Bracknell Forest Council managed to overturn an agreement made in 1990 that required the land on which the course was built to be kept as green space for at least the next 125 years. A majority councillors agreed to waive the agreement following a vote in 2013, so that 450 houses and two schools can be built in the golf club’s place.
Bracknell Town Football Club were in talks to move its ground to the new Binfield site, but rejected it last month following a disagreement over the size of the plot available for the club’s facilities.