Council tees up multi-million pound deal for golf courses

BIRMINGHAM City Council has signed a landmark deal to secure the future of public golf courses in the local authority area.

The council has signed a multi-million pound deal with London-based social enterprise Mytime Active to modernise and manage the authority’s seven courses.

Cllr Martin Mullaney, cabinet member for Leisure, Sport and Culture, said the 50-year deal had effectively saved “pay and play” golf across the city.

Under the agreement, Mytime Active will invest in the facilities and planned improvements include a new clubhouse at Pype Hayes, a new driving range at Hatchford Brook, a new club house at Harborne and a refurbished club house at Boldmere.

Cllr Mullaney said: “When I became cabinet member in 2009 there was a very real fear that one or more of our courses might have to close and I was determined to avoid that.

“Now, with this groundbreaking deal, we have not only safeguarded public golf for future generations, we have transformed a service that was running at a loss into one that is set for significant investment.”

He said Mytime Active had a strong track record of managing public golf services in partnership with local authorities and had exciting plans to increase participation across the seven courses in Birmingham.

Mytime Active chief executive Steve Price said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded the contract to manage Birmingham’s golf courses and are very much looking forward to meeting staff and customers to discuss the priorities for improvement.

“We’re very proud of our track record of investing in quality which leads to improved customer satisfaction, and greater up-take, which we will apply to successfully sustain Birmingham’s courses.”

Since Mytime Active was formed in 2004 the range of managed services has grown to include 10 golf centres making the charitable trust one of the leading public golf service managers in the country.

More than £15m has been re-invested into improvements including new and improved club houses, driving ranges, changing facilities, pro-shops, and new grounds maintenance equipment to provide enhanced playing conditions.