The First PGA Golf Academy, National Centre of Excellence for Amateur Golf Training to be built at Formby Hall Golf Club, Merseyside.
Work will begin this summer on a multi-million pound residential golf academy in Formby, Merseyside after a two year wait for planning technicalities to be resolved.
Joe Fleetwood, Director of Golf at Formby Hall Golf Club, commented: "This is a real coup for Formby Hall Golf Club to play a significant part in the PGA's initiative to develop the game in the UK" "We are delighted that Maghull Developments has decided to support us in this unique facility. It is a fantastic opportunity for both Formby Hall Golf Club and the whole of the North West region, we aim to provide a facility which develops the budding talent that already exists within the UK and nurture that talent to produce the golfing stars of tomorrow".
Maghull Developments, part of Liverpool based Maghull Group, has been granted detailed planning approval to develop a new PGA National Golf Academy and 62-bed golf residency at Formby Hall Golf Club, on Southport Old Road, Merseyside.
The PGA Golf Academy will be the first of its kind in the UK and will be a National Centre of Excellence for Amateur Golf Training. It will be affiliated with Formby Hall Golf Club, and operate alongside the existing club facilities.
The Academy aspires to centre Formby Hall Golf Club as a national headquarters for the development of golf for people of all ages and all standards.
The development will comprise a new nine-hole Academy golf course, health and fitness facilities with pool and spa, sports rehabilitation facilities and a 62 bed golf residence. The existing clubhouse facilities will also benefit from a complete refurbishment.
Formby Hall Golf Club was chosen by the PGA as it satisfied all of their requirements which included the existing first-class club facilities and the club's strategic location, benefiting from excellent road, rail and airport links.
The club's close proximity to the world-famous Links Courses - including Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool, Hillside, Formby, and Southport and Ainsdale - also played a part in the decision.
Although the new Academy will be built on Green Belt protected land, planners decided that the positive benefits of the scheme would far outweigh the negatives for Sefton and its community. Factors considered included the added value that the scheme would bring to the locality and that visitors would link their trips with visits to other attractions at Southport, Formby and elsewhere in Merseyside and the North West region.
The new Academy will also create jobs. It is envisaged that 55 new staff would be employed from the local area.
Now that the plans have been agreed by Sefton planners, construction works can commence with the project scheduled for completion late in 2007 in time for Liverpools Capital of Culture year in 2008.
Michael Hanlon, managing director of Maghull Developments, explained: "We are delighted to be working with both the PGA and Formby Hall Golf Club on this unique and exciting golf project, which we believe will affirm the borough of Sefton's status as the 'Gold Coast' of Golf in the UK".
"We have been liaising with the Director of Planning and the Chief Executive of Sefton Council in respect of bringing a National Golf Academy to Sefton for the last five years. Without their ongoing enthusiasm, support and vision it would have been unlikely that this project would have been brought to North West".
For further information contact
Mitch Poole, 07919 541 056
or Liz Yarnall 07810 373 995 @ Poole PR
