Darlington Borough Council reviews future of Stressholme Golf Club (From The Northern Echo)

Council course could merge with Blackwell Grange Golf Club

8:40am Tuesday 31st January 2012 in Darlington Borough Council News By Lauren Pyrah, Deputy Business Editor

Talks over future: Stressholme

A REVIEW into a municipal golf club subsidised by a council by up to £83,000 a year could see the facility merged with a private neighbouring club, outsourced, or put into a community trust, it has emerged.

The future of Stressholme Golf Club is being examined by Darlington Borough Council, as the authority tries to cut its spending bill by £25m over the next three years.

It is hoping to cut the cost of Stressholme with one of three options – merging it with nearby, privately-run, Blackwell Grange Golf Club; bringing in a private company to run the club; or creating a sporting community trust similar to Activ8, in Stockton.

The Northern Echo understands Blackwell’s 600 sporting and social members have been sent letters asking their views on the merger proposal.

At the moment, the two clubs share professional Ralph Givens and lend each other maintenence equipment. The council owns some of the land at Blackwell, which is leased to the club.

A council spokeswoman said the exercise was in the review stage, with firm options and proposals due to be put forward in about six months.

She said it was part of the ongoing Services for Place review, as the council seeks to cut a quarter of its budget after a reduction in its Government grant.

“As part of the on-going review, the council will explore a range of options for Stressholme Golf Club which, next year, it anticipates it will fund at a cost of about £83,000 per year.

“The council is ambitious that with further work, this sum will be driven down. Options to be explored include maintaining the venue, but seeking to increase income and reduce costs, sale or outsourcing, inclusion in the creation of a borough-wide leisure trust or approaching existing venues, such as neighbouring Blackwell Grange Golf Club, to discuss possible mergers.

“Each of the different options will now be explored over the next six months. It is intended a report will be taken to cabinet this autumn for consideration outlining the findings from the review and possible options for the future.”

Councillor Nick Wallis, cabinet member for leisure and local environment, said: “Due to the increasing budget pressures, we have to explore new ways of working.

“With this in mind, it seems sensible as part of our wider review of leisure and culture facilities to review our management of Stressholme Golf Club and potentially explore different ways of managing our involvement in the provision of golf facilities.”

Doug Christie, secretary of Blackwell, said the proposal was in its very early stages and no commitment had been made.

“We have been asked to say if we are interested and we have said we are. For the proposal to go further, we have to go back to our members.”