dorset course to be extended to 18 holes

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A Dorset golf club has been granted permission to develop farmland to extend the popular course to a full 18 holes – 19 if you count the bar!

The £250,000 investment will mark the completion of the project that began in 1991 when Parley Golf Centre began life as a 27 bay, floodlit driving range.

A nine hole course followed along with a putting green, café-bar, mini gym and corporate meeting room.

The latest application prepared by planning consultants Tanner & Tilley to add a further nine holes has been approved by Christchurch Borough Council.

The project will bring at least three greenkeeping jobs as well as other positions within the clubhouse.

The project is set to be completed within three years and will turn the club into a golfing centre of excellence.

When finished, the 18 holes will cover 5,606 yards with a par of 70. It will include four, par-5 holes, and seven par-3s and 5s.

Parley is located close to Bournemouth International Airport sitting within a beautiful 800 acre farming estate next to the River Stour, which is home to the 17th century Parley Manor.

It is a ‘pay and play’ course, has a growing membership and is renowned for introducing new and young players to the sport – it has five professionals who are on hand to help any golfer improve his game.

Owner Hugh Dampney said: “We are delighted that we have permission to expand the course to a full 18 holes.

“It has been our ambition to have a full-size course since the driving range opened over 20 years ago.

“We are grateful to Tanner & Tilley planning experts for securing the permission and we’re pleased to continue our long association with the company.

“We’re very excited about the future, which will bring three, full-time green keepers’ jobs as well as other positions within the clubhouse.

“The investment is a sign of our ambition, but we’ve been careful to grow organically and want always to retain the friendly atmosphere at the centre.”

 

Matt Holmes, planning consultant with Bournemouth-based Tanner & Tilley, said: “The new nine holes have been designed by Paul Goodfellow and we were able to pull it all together with landscape architects from Partridge Associates.”

* For more info visit www.parleygolf.co.uk

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