Staffs club hits great heights

A Staffordshire golf club has managed to drive back the economic downturn with a large increase in membership – thanks to a range of investment to improve facilities.

St Thomas’s Priory Golf Club, at Armitage near Rugeley, has seen the number of new members rise by more than a third during the year, despite the recession devastating parts of the leisure industry.

Managers at the club, home to an 18-hole championship course set alongside the 19th Century Hawkesyard Hall, put the increase down to the more than £100,000 spent improving the course and facilities at the club over the last 18 months.

“At St Thomas’s we’re striving to become one of the best golf clubs in the region and by improving the facilities here we’re bringing the course and the hall back to their sparkling best,” said Phil Gibson, director of golf.

The number of members rose by nearly 150 during last year, an increase of more than a third, with the rise continuing during the beginning of 2010 with more than 50 new members joining in the last two months.

The investment made into the course over the last 18 months has included over seeding the greens with high quality grass, several major changes on certain holes and bedding in nearly 200 new trees. The club’s practice area has also been extensively updated and the training academy refurbished.

The work is part of long term programme at the club which is set to see several greens redesigned, holes extended and bunkers moved so the course maintains its golfing challenge.

Added Mr Gibson: “We’re hoping even more people are going to join us this year as the season gets started.”

St Thomas’s Priory is a member of 2-FORE!-1 GOLF and therefore provides half-price green fees –  so long as you’ve got a 2-FORE!-1 voucher.

The new facilities will be showcased at the club’s open day on Sunday 21 March when visitors will be able to enjoy a FREE round.

The newly refurbished coaching academy at the club, the European Golf Performance Institute, will be officially re-opened, with tours for visitors, along with displays of golf equipment from Nike and Srixon.

*For further details contact Phil Gibson on 01543 491 911 or e-mail golf@st-thomas-golfclub.co.uk