Council golf course saved

Walsall's closure-threatened golf course has been spared the axe with council chiefs promising a major revamp, it was announced today.

A new Scandinavian-style log cabin clubhouse, cafe and driving range will be created to keep the Grange Golf Course going and boost revenue.

It signals a dramatic turnaround for the nine-hole facility, which the council had voted to axe earlier this year.

And council leader Mike Bird said security would be stepped up to stop golfers sneaking on without paying.

"The fact is that 16,000 people used the Grange last year, so it remains a very popular facility," he said.

"But although it is something that has cost us money in the past, with sensible investment I think we can turn its fortunes around.

"It's about looking at it in a business-like way.

"If we can bring in something where people can get a cup of tea or coffee and a sandwich, those are ways of helping it pay for itself.

"The idea of a driving range is also a good one, because that is something that people would be prepared to pay to use but would not be hugely expensive in terms of overheads.

"We will also be looking to secure the various points of illegal access, to stop people using the course for free."

Green prices are expected to go up at the Arboretum Extension course in Broadway North as part of the scheme, but discounted annual season tickets would also be introduced.

An outline business plan will go before the council's cabinet next month.

Leisure chief Councillor Barry Sanders said golfers' views had been taken on board. "They obviously want to keep it open, but there is a need to balance this against the fact it is running at a substantial loss," he said.

"The bottom line is the course must be used more and every effort is being made to make it more appealing."