Work set to begin on new 120-acre golf course

The new golf course will cover 120 acres.

WHITE Horse Country Park is looking forward to expanding its golf course with work starting soon on an ambitious £1million+ expansion.

The development will see the existing nine-hole golf course expanded to an 18-hole course, covering three times the current size. Planning permission was granted last year after a two year battle, but the scheme was further delayed as it had to be approved by the Environment Agency.

Now the permission has been given, owner and director of the park, Derek Hulin, can’t wait for the work to start.

Derek said, “We’re ecstatic that we can do this at last; getting to this point has been like pulling chickens’ teeth!

“I’m hoping work will begin in the next four weeks, and that the course will be ready to use in around two and a half years. People who play at the club are itching to get on the course before we have even started.”

The golf course, currently covering around 40 acres, is expected to triple in size with the development.

Derek continued, “The total acreage will be around 120 acres when the course is finished; the project will cost well in excess of a million pounds.

“Since we bought the site in 2009 after Lafarge closed, we have opened fishing lakes, a bowls green, a specimen lake, a ground for Westbury Rugby Club, and are now looking to start work on a caravan site.

“I’m surprised by how many people don’t know we even have a golf course here. We are not a members’ club – golf is pay and play and anyone is welcome to visit.”

All facilities at the White Horse Country Park will be open as normal during building work.

The country park on Coach Road has a huge range of activities and events on offer, along with a campsite and restaurant. Next month, the country park will host the popular Village Pump Music Festival. To find out more visit www.whitehorsecountrypark.co.uk or call 01373 822323.