Durham golf club rides Ryder Cup wave with £100k improvements

A golf club in Durham is investing £100k into improving its facilities as it seeks to capitalise on the feelgood factor created by Europe’s recent Ryder Cup victory.

Cocken Lodge Golf Club in Leamside is opening a new £65k training centre complete with a golf simulator, which provides virtual reality practice for visitors, a purpose-built classroom and a fitting room. The site will also include facilities for indoor putting practice.

The £100k finance package, which is being provided by Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, will allow the firm to clear land to make way for a new nine-hole short-game course and to fund 20,000 new golf balls for its driving range. The company hopes that the investment will help it to unearth the next generation of golf pros.

The club, where people can play without memberships, has made a range of improvements to its site over the past two years, including new mats, bay dividers and lighting along with refurbishments to its workshops. It began operation as a driving range in 1992 and its first golf course opened in 2001.

Gawin Holmes, managing director at Cocken Lodge Golf Club, said: “There’s a great buzz among our golfers at the club following Europe’s recent win at the Ryder Cup, and the victory has also piqued the interest of novices and part-time players who want to get involved in the sport.

“It’s important for us to make golf as accessible as possible for people in the area to enjoy, while still offering state-of-the-art facilities. Launching the new practice centre and developing the course is a key part of us achieving this aim.”

He added: “Our latest investment is a great milestone in the development of the club in recent years, and Lloyds Bank has been an excellent partner to help us realise our vision.”

Ben Merrick, relationship manager at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, commented: “No other golf clubs in the area offer services like Cocken Lodge’s new practice facility.

“The fact that no membership is required will also make it a hit with novices, pros, parties and school trips alike.”

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