A village golf club is in line for a ‘par-ful’ boost with plans for a £1.5 million extension which will deliver 15 new jobs.
Edenmore Golf and Country Club, on the Drumnabreeze Road, Magheralin, is a family-owned business just a stone’s throw from the village centre.
And now the owners are hoping to bag approval for a major extension and building development as they plan to invest in the future.
Proposals, in the name of Josh and Aaron Logan, have now been drawn up and submitted to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council for consideration.
The plans include the construction of a new two-storey building which will house a 42-bay indoor driving range – 21 on each floor – including two private fitting bays.
The development will also incorporate a restaurant and cafe, as well as kitchen, on the first floor, with a professional shop, ball store and balcony area featured to0.
The driving range will be surrounded by 15 to 20 metre high safety net fencing, with posts around it and floodlighting from the building over the driving range.
The application is seeking approval for the “alteration and extension” to the existing golf course and a site inspection has already been carried out.
The works would involve changes being made to the course layout. There would also be additional hard and soft landscaping, as well as the provision of a new access onto the Drumnabreeze Road, with the abandonment of the existing access.
To accommodate future users of the new facilities – situated about a mile-and-a-half from the village of Magheralin and five miles from Lurgan – the hope is to create a new car parking facility boasting 90 spaces.
An economic statement points to the plans bringing a significant investment to the borough – while also creating jobs.
It explains: “Edenmore has been operating for more than 30 years and currently provides employment for 45 full and part-time staff providing in both the leisure and hospitality sectors.
“The proposed new facility at Edenmore will involve in excess of £1.5 million of additional private investment within the ABC council area.
“The project plan has been developed to improve the leisure and hospitality offering at Edenmore, providing an improved offering to members of the public and club members alike.
“We believe that the proposed development will not only appeal to local residents, but will also attract more folk into the ABC Council area.
“Importantly, based on market data available, increases in population density and information gathered from other Technology Enabled (TE) Ranges across the UK we believe that the new facilities will increase turnover and ultimately profitability as we continue to operate in this challenging sector.
“In addition, the proposed development when operational will create up to 15 new jobs between the leisure and hospitality sectors.”
A design and access statement says the site is currently occupied by a club house building and an 18 hole golf course, in an enterprise which is family run and employs “local people within the rural area”.
The golf course is described as “well established as one of the driest courses within Northern Ireland”, and the proposal “complies with planning policy”.
The application will now be advertised shortly.
