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Golf club aims to help boost the local economy

Written by on 13/04/2021

A South Lakeland golf club is keen to play its part to help the local area bounce back following the coronavirus pandemic.

Kirkby Lonsdale Golf Club would like to increase its membership but it also wants to help boost the local economy by attracting visitors to the area. It has set up a range of ‘Stay and Play’ offers with local hotels. The staycation packages include accommodation, meals and rounds of golf at the picturesque club, which nestles in the lovely Lune Valley between Casterton and Barbon.

It is also creating a special promotional leaflet – ‘Destination Kirkby Lonsdale’ – aimed at encouraging people to visit the area and take in a round of golf at the same time.

“The idea is to attract golfers with their partners and families for ‘stay and play’ visits to the area,” said club member Robin Ree. “We are in South Lakeland and the Yorkshire Dales National Park and close to the Lake District. This is fabulous walking country and the town of Kirkby Lonsdale has such a lot to offer.”

There was a resurgent interest in golf, locally and nationally, said golf club secretary and manager David Towers. “We enjoyed the best first week in April for five years – there is a real hunger for golf,” he said.

Membership is on the increase and stands at around 380 members, including an active and growing group of lady members.

The club has various initiatives planned to attract even more members.

PGA Trainee Professional Ellie Broome has boosted the number of juniors, aged from five to 18, at the club to around 60 over the past year by running regular Saturday classes and school holiday golfing camps when Covid restrictions allowed.

“We are also making contact with local schools to encourage their pupils to come along and are looking to organise an inter schools golf competition here later this year,” said vice-captain Graham Bywater.

The club has a six-hole Academy course for use by juniors and those beginning to learn the game.

The club recognises that it is vital to attract juniors to the game because they are the next generation and future of the sport.

Ellie Broome and Head PGA professional John Twissell are running two ‘Get into Golf’ beginners’ classes – a ladies group and a mixed group. Meanwhile the club has applied to Golf England to be able to help deliver its Girls Golf Rocks initiative.

The pandemic has been tough on the club, suspending its income intermittently over a full year.

The club runs various local charity initiatives. Captain Kate Hampshire has chosen Cumbria Wildlife Trust as her charity and with help from members has been able to put up bird boxes and plant wildflower seeds to increase the biodiversity around the course.

The club also runs many competitions, including opens which are very popular with visitors, and is considering trying to host Pro-Am tournaments.

If anyone would like to book a round or join as a member, they should contact the Pro Shop on 015242 76366 or book a tee time on the website kirkbylonsdalegolfclub.com