18 Years Is Par For The Course For Family Run Club

The family owners of a Midlands golf club are celebrating 18-years at the helm with the conclusion of a £1 million investment programme.

Gaudet Luce Golf Club in Droitwich is owned by Martin Fernihough, his son Alec and daughter-in-law Jenny, and was founded in 1995 by Martin’s uncle and since then the family has overseen the transformation, which includes a new-look clubhouse, the installation of a state-of-the-art driving range, a new par-3 course and a reconfiguration of the 18-hole Phoenix Course.

The 18-year overhaul of the club and its facilities has also included the planting of 30,000 new trees and course improvements including drainage, new bunkers and a tee renovation programme.

Despite the tough financial climate, operations director Alec Fernihough has also confirmed a further investment of £50,000 for this year with the construction of an indoor coaching facility and clubhouse upgrades.

Fernihough said: “Our family has owned and ran the club for 18-years and during that time we have put so much work into remodelling the 18-hole course, building the new Par-3 course and developing a number of facilities alongside our award-winning coaching programmes.

“That has taken a big commitment on a number of levels but it is fantastic to see that hard work beginning to attract more people than ever to the club. It is no secret that times have been tough for all businesses over the past few years but we’re determined to keep offering first-class facilities for members and visitors by continuing to invest.”

Mr Fernihough, who has just agreed to join the board of directors for UK Golf Club Owners Association also said that the club, which has over 800 members, is looking to expand its 36-strong workforce.

He added: “The investment is beginning to pay off but we’ve also put a lot of work into making the course appealing and welcoming to people. That has been helped greatly by our fantastic team – whether that’s on the golf side, in the pro shop or within our wedding and conferencing department. It’s a team we are looking to grow as we look towards an exciting future for the club.”

The forward-thinking club has been able to grow thanks to innovative golf offers such as Weekender Plus – a scheme which allows flexible membership to meet the changing needs of the modern golfer.

Gaudet Luce’s 6,040-yard 18-hole Phoenix Course takes its name and its phoenix logo from a plaque which was discovered in a 17th century farmhouse on the site of the current course. The name is Latin for ‘rejoice in the light’.