Royal Norwich to move to Weston Park

After much and longtime speculation, the historic Norfolk club Royal Norwich is on the move.

The members of Royal Norwich Golf Club (pictured) voted in favour of relocating to Weston Park, subject to satisfactory planning consents being obtained at both the Hellesdon and Weston Park sites.

Royal Norwich members attended a meeting at Hellesdon High School in Norwich, where they were given a two hour presentation detailing the Club’s vision, background and reasons for the move. Members also heard from Bob Williams, CEO of the Golf Club Managers Association about the wider golf market and the unique opportunity the move presented for Royal Norwich GC and from Ross McMurray of European Golf Design who will be responsible for the revised course design.

EGD is jointly owned by IMG and the European Tour and has designed award winning golf courses around the world including the 2010 Ryder Cup course at Celtic Manor and the Marquess Course at Woburn.

The vote in favour of the relocation to Weston Park was passed by a majority of 81%.

If the satisfactory planning consents are achieved, there is likely to be a transition and development period of about three years prior to final relocation. Royal Norwich Golf Club will invest a substantial sum in creating an outstanding course and club-house together with other onsite facilities to help ensure benchmark facilities worthy of national acclaim.

Adrian Myhill, Captain of Royal Norwich Golf Club said: “I was extremely pleased to get a strong mandate from the members for the relocation of Royal Norwich to Weston Park. We’re now looking forward to the hard work developing the detailed plans for planning permission”.

Martin Goymour, Managing Director of Goymour Properties, the owners of Weston Park, said: “I am pleased for Royal Norwich members in that they have reached another important milestone towards their goal of moving to Weston Park. The project, upon completion, will benefit members at both clubs and enable Weston Park to be transformed into Norfolk’s premier golf club, a worthy new home for the Royal Norwich”

Also Andrew Fuller, Managing Director of Persimmon Homes Anglia, commented: “We are delighted that the members of RNGC have voted in favour of the relocation proposals and have accepted Persimmons offer to partner the Club through this process. We will now be appointing various consultants to work on both elements of the project to deliver new homes on the current course and in the design and expansion of the facilities at Weston Park. This will equally involve engagement with the local community as matters progress, the hope being that appropriate planning applications will be submitted as soon as possible.”

Detailed contracts will now be agreed and exchanged following which detailed development plans will be drawn up for the planning applications. Subject to planning permissions being granted, the new course and facilities at Weston Park could be opened by late 2017.