GOLF enthusiasts have been handed a one-off chance to save their municipal golf course in an innovative new scheme.

The amateur golfers of The Hobson golf course, near Burnopfield, north of Stanley, have been told they can run the course and clubhouse by Derwentside District Council.

The Hobson Golf Club, which has struggled to attract new members in recent years, has beaten off competition from dozens of other applicants who applied to take over the 125-acre course.

The council will still own the property and have imposed conditions on the deal which mean membership cannot be closed and individual members of the public can still pay for one-off games without being members.

The authority, which pays about £10,000 a year to run the course, a fraction of the £750,000 a year it pays for all sports facilities, will collect rent from the club.

Speaking at the launch of the scheme, head of leisure at Derwentside council Steve Howell, said: "The reason the club here got the call to run the course was because they came in and said they would give everything they had to it.

"They would do the smaller things we simply haven't got time to do. I really think they will move the place on."

Club secretary Ron Handrick said the club had about 640 members and about 50,000 rounds of golf were played on the course each year. He said: "This place has got great potential. We're looking forward to turning that potential into reality."

Chairman of Derwentside council Les Vaux launched the arrangement.

He said: "It's been rough these last two years while this process has gone on, but I'm sure it is going to be a rosy future for the club from now on."

The council will hand over the reigns to the club in April after the details of the agreement have been ironed out.

The Hobson golf course was built by the council in 1981 and has been run by the authority ever since. A nine-hole course for mine managers was based at the site when The Hobson pit was open. Anyone interested in joining is asked to call (01207) 271605