Local range closes

[chrisd]

The best of our two local ranges, with a 9 hole course, closed today when, I understand, the receivers were called in at 10am. It's a great shame for the area and more so the people who work there who, I believe, are now redundant.

I just hope that a way will be found to re open it with new owners, that the golf course members havnt lost too much money and the employees will be re hired or find alternative work. In the meanwhile there will be less practicing for us all.

 

[shivas irons]

Golf is taking such a hit nowdays, when we had the superstar Nick Faldo back in the early 90's people couldnt get enough of the game with courses and ranges springing up everywhere. I did think with Rose winning the US Open there might be a renewed interest again with new golfers but alas, guess we need another superstar.

 

[Pin-seeker]

Very sad that pal,especially at this time of year.

 

[Papas1982]

Golf is taking such a hit nowdays, when we had the superstar Nick Faldo back in the early 90's people couldnt get enough of the game with courses and ranges springing up everywhere. I did think with Rose winning the US Open there might be a renewed interest again with new golfers but alas, guess we need another superstar.

I thnk it's more economy than anything else, come the 90's we were entering the boom before the bust. HID's has been in cinemas for 15 years and with escalating costs for the guests numbers are hitting rock bottom. Was a time when people would queue in the streets for the latest hobbit and now you can turn up and get one on the door. When most clubs charge approx £1 for 10-15 balls it's little surprise ranges are used less often. I'm not knocking clubs, they have costs to cover. But unfortunately times are tough for many people and to be fair, golf is hardly the cheapest sport to take up new. Unless you are prepared to buy years old TM gear as it's all knocked down due to following releases 😁

 

[chrisd]

Sadly, it was a pretty decent range with a starters course that was pretty ok. They sold gear, in fact I bought my AP2's there. I guess it is the economic times and less people playing the game. I would go there sometimes twice a week

Just got to hope it opens again soon!

 

[Deleted member 17920]

The fact is that golf is having a very tough time. Green fees are down, practising on ranges is down, People don't have spare cash like they used to.

Golf is just been chucked through the discounters and devaluing a very good product.

It shows how tough it is when you can get a game at Celtic Manor on the twenty ten course stop over and play the montgomerie the next day for peanuts. Everyone is fighting for a very small amount of business.

 

[chrisd]

The fact is that golf is having a very tough time. Green fees are down, practising on ranges is down, People don't have spare cash like they used to.

Golf is just been chucked through the discounters and devaluing a very good product.

It shows how tough it is when you can get a game at Celtic Manor on the twenty ten course stop over and play the montgomerie the next day for peanuts. Everyone is fighting for a very small amount of business.

Spot on LQ

 

[Deleted member 17920]

This year we have had in Lincolnshire Three 9 hole courses close and 2 have been turned back to farming.

Another 9 holer is up for sale and reported to be losing a very healthy amount per year. That's another one that might be turned back to the cows.

The boom time has gone from golf and its only the ones that have the correct business model that will survive. One club around here is doing green fees on tee off times for a might £3-5. That's not going to keep them in business for very long.

I will say only 10% of the people that book discounted tee times actually stay and use any of the other facilities the venue has to offer!

 

[shivas irons]

The fact is that golf is having a very tough time. Green fees are down, practising on ranges is down, People don't have spare cash like they used to.

Golf is just been chucked through the discounters and devaluing a very good product.

It shows how tough it is when you can get a game at Celtic Manor on the twenty ten course stop over and play the montgomerie the next day for peanuts. Everyone is fighting for a very small amount of business.

Mon-Thur is just a pound a hole on the Monty and Roman courses.......

 

[Blue in Munich]

The best of our two local ranges, with a 9 hole course, closed today when, I understand, the receivers were called in at 10am. It's a great shame for the area and more so the people who work there who, I believe, are now redundant.

I just hope that a way will be found to re open it with new owners, that the golf course members havnt lost too much money and the employees will be re hired or find alternative work. In the meanwhile there will be less practicing for us all.

Chris, what in your opinion made it the better one? I ask because if that's the general consensus of opinion, I wonder why this one has gone belly up when the other one is presumably still up and running?

 

[Jimbooo]

The best of our two local ranges, with a 9 hole course, closed today when, I understand, the receivers were called in at 10am. It's a great shame for the area and more so the people who work there who, I believe, are now redundant.

I just hope that a way will be found to re open it with new owners, that the golf course members havnt lost too much money and the employees will be re hired or find alternative work. In the meanwhile there will be less practicing for us all.

Ouch... is that Homelands, chris?

 

[mashleyR7]

Yes homelands. My dad worked behind the counter, he's been made redundant but wont get any payout he was only doing it to get him out the house after he retired from the Post Office.

Why was it better than the other place? It was cleaner, tidier, was newer and had a better target layout. The balls weren't so good though.

The other range is a right rubbish pit though. The landing area also has a paintball range, archery range, orbing slope, it has a 9 hole pitch n put course, as well as a very short 9 holes course (4 par fours only). I don't think it's that busy either. The balls there are better though. This place closed its shop years ago so wasn't stocked like it was when I went there as a junior.

 

[London mike 61]

Near me is a golf range run by an American based company called top golf it has a double layered driving range and has a hospitality section that runs functions like birthday parties and corporate stuff . It has a bar and you can buy a light meal and is open til midnight , it has pros available for lessons and there is an American golf shop on the site as well . Perhaps this is the way forward with them taking over small courses and reinventing golf practice.

 

[shivas irons]

Near me is a golf range run by an American based company called top golf it has a double layered driving range and has a hospitality section that runs functions like birthday parties and corporate stuff . It has a bar and you can buy a light meal and is open til midnight , it has pros available for lessons and there is an American golf shop on the site as well . Perhaps this is the way forward with them taking over small courses and reinventing golf practice.

That sounds like Ufford Park at Woodbridge, it also has a two tier range which has heated bays, bar,AG and an 18 hole championship course.Its an outstanding facility and worth the extra distance for me, thing is whenever ive been there out of the 20 plus bays ive never seen more than myself and a couple of others using it.....

 

[Deleted member 15344]

There is also a Top Golf range at Watford - very good fun

 

[JCW]

The best of our two local ranges, with a 9 hole course, closed today when, I understand, the receivers were called in at 10am. It's a great shame for the area and more so the people who work there who, I believe, are now redundant.

I just hope that a way will be found to re open it with new owners, that the golf course members havnt lost too much money and the employees will be re hired or find alternative work. In the meanwhile there will be less practicing for us all.

Maybe they used the online range , seems the way forward , nobody uses the pro shop anymore , the bar for drink and foods and now they started using the playing fields so now the local range is joining the local pro on the scrap heap .....................EYG

 

[chrisd]

Chris, what in your opinion made it the better one? I ask because if that's the general consensus of opinion, I wonder why this one has gone belly up when the other one is presumably still up and running?

Just as Mashley posts

Ouch... is that Homelands, chris?

Yes, it closed today

Yes homelands. My dad worked behind the counter, he's been made redundant but wont get any payout he was only doing it to get him out the house after he retired from the Post Office.

Why was it better than the other place? It was cleaner, tidier, was newer and had a better target layout. The balls weren't so good though.

The other range is a right rubbish pit though. The landing area also has a paintball range, archery range, orbing slope, it has a 9 hole pitch n put course, as well as a very short 9 holes course (4 par fours only). I don't think it's that busy either. The balls there are better though. This place closed its shop years ago so wasn't stocked like it was when I went there as a junior.

I'd be surprised if someone like Pentland Golf don't move in on it !

 

[Dodger]

Torphin Hill GC appointed administrators today after no buyer was found at last nights AGM.

 

[chrisd]

Maybe they used the online range , seems the way forward , nobody uses the pro shop anymore , the bar for drink and foods and now they started using the playing fields so now the local range is joining the local pro on the scrap heap .....................EYG

The range was well used, sold gear and had a teaching pro. I guess the upkeep of the 9 hole course was expensive and with the general trend of less demand, bad weather and rising costs, these were probably contributory factors. It been rumoured for a few weeks now so no real surprise

 

[JCW]

The range was well used, sold gear and had a teaching pro. I guess the upkeep of the 9 hole course was expensive and with the general trend of less demand, bad weather and rising costs, these were probably contributory factors. It been rumoured for a few weeks now so no real surprise

I run a little shop and its hard going , everyone wants a deal and are prepared to drive miles to save 20 p , maybe other ranges are cheaper and using cheaper balls and like you say , to up keep a 9 hole course cost money and if you have money going out all the time and not the same or more coming in , its only a matter of time , business has been grim that I am now thinking of leaving the UK to live in the Philippines with my wife way down south out of the path of storms , I never need to work again , I am building a house over there at the moment and it cost me £5 a day in wages for 2 builders with her father keeping an eye on things , 800 quid for the land , what could you get over here for £5 , .....100 range balls ........................EYG