THE owners of Bentham Golf Course have taken the opportunity of lockdown closures to overhaul their clubhouse and offices to transform the experience for locals, members and visitors when it re-opens on Monday, March 29.

The layout improvements mean that checking in, shopping and dining are now all under one roof, with longer opening hours for refreshments. With the larger golf shop now located inside the main clubhouse alongside 1922 Bar & Kitchen, visitors and members can browse the leisurewear and equipment while waiting for food and drink to arrive. It stocks an extended range of kit and leisurewear for beginners and enthusiasts alike and also features an indoor putting area.The club, run by the Marshall family, has invested in FlightScope radar launch monitor to help assess and improve the golfers’ game in the new ‘swing room’ and a specialist service is available for tailoring clubs to fit the individual’s swing style.

Isabel Marshall said: “These fantastic upgrades couldn’t have happened without support from England Golf through their Covid grant programme. The funding was essential to help us ensure this change was done to the highest standard and allowed the business to ensure they adapted as quickly as possible. The aim of the fund was to provide short-term financial support to golf clubs to help them develop a resilience strategy and plan for future sustainability.There is no doubt that Covid has had a huge impact on business and changes such as these should hopefully allow Wenningdale Leisure to operate more efficiently as well as making the experience much simpler for members and golfing visitors alike. By moving the golf shop to work alongside the bar and clubhouse staff, the aim is to create a better environment for both staff and customers.”

During the spring the club is offering ‘Get into Golf’ tuition. Aimed at groups of beginners with a course of five lessons for £40. Newcomers to the game can enjoy learning with other people and make new friends to play games with as they develop their skills together.