Member Article

£200k+ investment in south-facing balcony at Bramall Park Golf Club

Bramall Park Golf Club has reopened its iconic south-facing balcony after a £215,000 facelift. The balcony gives members and visitors a bird’s eye view of the beautiful parkland course and is part of an ongoing investment programme in the club house and the course. Over 150 members and visitors - including former MP for Cheadle Mary Robinson – attended a champagne reception to mark its completion.

On the night Men’s Captain, Roger Souter, and Lady Captain, Francesca Swarbrick, cut the ribbon to declare the balcony officially open and the club’s newly formed choir serenaded all with a selection of songs including The Drifters hit ‘Up on the Roof’.

Roger Souter commented: “The club has a long-term redevelopment plan to improve and modernise and this was the first phase of that programme. It was amazing to see the transformation. Everyone is very pleased with it.”

Originally envisaged over six years ago, the balcony facelift is part one of an ambitious programme of change which has been overseen to date by a Property Committee, initially led by John Gardiner, and championed by many people.

Golf Club Chairman John Reid commented: “We owe this team and its wider supporters a huge debt of thanks for putting in many hours to get this first major phase of change achieved.

“Now we have ensured that we offer existing and new members an attractive place to socialise and enjoy each other’s company.

The balcony features a range of new furniture protected by retractable awnings and outdoor heating, and extensive bi-fold doors which can be opened on sunny days. John again: “It is a great facility and will allow members and their guests to enjoy extensive views over the course in comfort throughout the year.”

Enhanced opening hours for both catering and bar offerings is expected to make the balcony a very popular facility.

The club worked on the project with architect Michael Ashworth of Worthington Ashworth Jackson Walker, based in Shaw Heath and building contractors City Build Manchester, from Walkden.

The overall investment included the necessary upgrading of a number of major structural and roofing issues, some of which were only clearly visible as old parts of the existing structure were exposed.

Improvements in the club house will complement a course which has long had an excellent reputation for its layout, condition and overall presentation.

In the last few years extensive new pro-shop facilities have been created to provide a wide range of services to members and visitors.

Additional investment by senior Golf Professional Craig Daggitt in a state-of-the-art indoor teaching facility has allowed him and his team of PGA professionals to take teaching and club fitting to a new level.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sue Souter .