Two council-owned golf clubs in the South East that were under serious threat of closure have had their futures secured after a private buyer stepped in at the last minute.
Broome Manor Golf Complex (pictured) and Highworth Golf Centre, both located in Swindon, have been bought by Twigmarket, a company with a solid track record of running golf clubs in the UK.
Twigmarket’s chairman, Jeremy Sturgess, has outlined plans to invest considerable sums in bringing both Wiltshire venues up to the mark, including building an adventure golf course, a hotel, and a golf retail outlet at Broome Manor.
“We are absolutely delighted to acquire Broome Manor and Highworth golf courses, along with a really great team of staff, who have transferred to us and will continue to manage the facilities,” said Mr Sturgess. “These are quality golf assets, with combined sales of over £1 million, that had fallen on hard times, and we are greatly honoured to have been selected to lease them by Swindon Council, who retain the freeholds and who will share in the improving fortunes of the clubs.”
Sturgess added: “Particularly pleasing for me is that this is the first time for several years that a commercial golf operator like ourselves has won a municipal golf course tender bid. Having purchased our last course, Trent Park Golf Club, in 1992, and despite numerous attempts since, these are the first courses we have been able to acquire for over 22 years because of unfair competition from so-called not-for-profit groups, which have a stranglehold on the municipal golf sector.”
Broome Manor is course that current European Tour player and former Ryder Cup star David Howell grew up playing as junior, before going on to county and international honours as an amateur, and then turning pro in 1995. Speaking about the club’s impact on his career, Howell said: “Broome Manor was a massive influence on my early years. I first went up there with my dad when was I was nine or ten. The club pro, Barry Sandry, had created a great set up for juniors, and really got us all enthused about the game. Clubs like this are essential for the continued growth of golf at the grassroots.”