Interim provider appointed to run Heaton Park Golf Course

Manchester City Council has appointed Green Circle Estates to run the golf course at Heaton Park on an interim basis until the end of October 2019.

Liverpool-based Green Circle will manage the park’s golf course and pitch-and-putt and maintain its bowls facilities, on behalf of the council.

The council is working with Green Circle to finalise terms and anticipate that the golf course will reopen to the public in early November.

The firm currently runs three other local authority-owned golf courses – Allerton Manor in Liverpool, Kirkby Valley in Knowsley and Sherdley Park in St Helens.

The agreement – put in place following the announcement that previous operator Mack Golf had ceased trading across all of their UK sites – means that all current season tickets which run until December 31, 2018, can be honoured and that golfers will be able to purchase new season tickets from the start of January.

As part of the agreement, Green Circle will be offering job interviews to staff who were previously employed by Mack Golf.

A contract for the long-term operation of the golf course will go out to tender, with a new permanent operator scheduled to be in place from November 1, 2019.

Executive member for schools, culture and leisure, Cllr Luthfur Rahman, said: “We look forward to working with Green Circle Estates to ensure that golf and bowls can continue at Heaton Park for the benefit of local residents, ahead of a new long-term arrangement for the facilities which will be confirmed next year.”

Helen Bamford, sales & marketing director at Green Circle Estates, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Manchester City Council and are pleased to be helping to keep these important and highly valued golf and leisure facilities at Heaton Park open to be enjoyed by the people of the city.

“We are a company with a strong commitment to sport for all and are committed to working with progressive local authorities like Manchester to deliver high-quality golf and leisure provision, which is both accessible and affordable.”

Six golf courses in the North West were forced to close in early October after Mack Golf collapsed into liquidation.

That led to the closure of the popular course at Heaton Park in Manchester, as well as Bowring Park Golf Course in Huyton, Merseyside, and Ellesmere Port Golf Course.

Knights Grange Golf Club in Winsford also closed its doors, along with Stanley Park in Blackpool and Stony Holme in Carlisle.

The company ran nine public golf courses in total across England and Ireland.

Five days after Mack Golf failed, Knowsley Council re-opened Bowring Park, one of the oldest municipal golf courses in the country.

After discussions with staff and their GMB union representatives, all five members of staff were re-employed by the council, while a more permanent operator is sought.