Dave Whelan buys Charnock Richard golf club

WIGAN Athletic chairman Dave Whelan has bought Charnock Richard Golf and Country Club with the intention of turning it into the club’s training ground.

As well as the 18-hole course, few miles to the North of Wigan, the 89-acre site has a club house, changing facilities, bars, a restaurant and a function suite.

In a statment Wigan stressed that the golf club will continue to operate as normal during the current season and all competitions and fixtures will be honoured.

It said it will be working closely with the local authority on a future planning permission. It is hoped that work could begin at the site by the end of the year. It confirmed that the previously outlined development near Wrightington Hotel and Country Club will now not be proceeding.

It said the purchase and development of this site was a “key aspect of the club’s objective of securing Youth Development Category 1 Status”.

The value of the deal was not disclosed. The club was operated by Hole In One Golf Club Ltd owned by Margaret Ross.