Golf course plans major expansion to ensure survival

A Birmingham golf course which is facing a ‘bleak’ future due to dwindling membership has lodged a planning application for a major revamp of its facilities.

Hilltop and Manwood Municipal Golf Course in Handsworth Wood, managed by Mytime Active on behalf of Birmingham City Council, needs to double business to break even.

In plans submitted to Birmingham City Council, Hilltop has proposed a floodlit driving range/practice outfield and golf club range building (22 bays), new 9 hole (par 3) course, an 18 hole footgolf course, putting course, replacement club house car park (100 spaces), new water features, landscape and bio-diversity enhancement works.

The planning statement said that in the last 12 months there were approximately 17,000 rounds played at the course. To break even and stay viable the club needs 35,000 rounds.

Planning consultancy Landor said: “Mytime Active has identified an opportunity to develop a golf academy at Hilltop Golf Club that would be of great benefit to the local area.

“The existing eighteen-hole golf course is failing due to its design, location, competition from other golf courses, as well as competition from other leisure activities. A more family friendly learning/teaching academy development is proposed to be far more competitive and enjoyable to the public.”

Presently Hilltop Golf Course is undersubscribed and has only 30 active members.

“The viability of the course and its long-term future is bleak, and a radical approach is required in order to attract more players and members,” the statement said.

It added that the existing 18-hole course is “cramped” and has conflicting fairways, resulting in safety issues, and proposes a re-grading of the topography to make the new course more interesting,
easier to walk, and with better draining.