Land sale and revamp at Welsh club

31 January 2012

Members of Brynhill Golf Club in south Wales have voted in favour of a proposal to sell off part of club’s land for a housing development to fund a course reconstruction and a new clubhouse.

Founded in 1921, Brynhill was originally laid out by Ted Ray, but the current course dates from the 1990s and was designed by Dave Thomas after the club bought more land.

Now, 88 per cent of the club’s members have voted in favour of a proposal to sell a parcel of its land to developer Redrow Homes, while incorporating additional, currently unused land, into a new-look eighteen hole layout. Design firm Weller McEvoy has been retained to plan the new course. A new clubhouse is also part of the plans.

The scheme calls for around 180 new houses to be built on the land, which adjoins the A4050 trunk road. A Redrow spokesperson said: “Redrow has experience of delivering similar schemes. Our aim is to take forward the best possible scheme, while minimising any impact on the local community.”

Club captain Stephen Jones said: “These proposals will enable us to make vital improvements to both the course and the clubhouse by using land already owned by the club in a different way. There is simply no way the club could raise the capital to make this kind of investment and the alternatives, which include reducing staff numbers, cutting spending on maintenance or increasing membership fees for adults and juniors, are not in the best interest of the club, its members or the local community.”

Three of the existing holes, along with the current clubhouse and car park, will form the site of the new housing development which will border existing residential areas to the south of the course. The club and Redrow now intend to submit a planning application to the Vale of Glamorgan Council.