Spotlight on Wirral revives world-class golf resort plan (From Wirral Globe)

Spotlight on Wirral revives world-class golf resort plan

11:14am Friday 7th September 2012 in News Exclusive By Geoff Barnes

Ambitious plans to create a major golf complex on par with the best in the world are being revived in West Wirral.

The idea was first mooted soon after Tiger Woods’ Open Golf Championship triumph at Royal Liverpool in 2006. Three internationally-recognised development companies expressed interest in the venture.

But because of the worldwide economic downturn, it had to be put on the backburner.

Now council leader Cllr Phil Davies says that with Wirral under world focus with two major championships in the space of two years, developers had begun to show renewed interest.

He said: “We haven’t reached the stage of putting shovels in the ground but the overall vision is something we want to press ahead with now.”

The proposed golfing resort – complete with challenging modern courses and a landmark five-star hotel – is planned on land within a short distance of the Royal Liverpool links.

Key requirements of the original plan were seen as a 250-bed hotel with restaurant, health, leisure , conference and spa facilities; up to a further 36 holes of golf (including a high quality complex with significant water facilities); new outdoor recreational amenities including sailing, fishing and horse-riding.

Councillor Davies said: “It is definitely something we want to move forward with quickly to capitalise on the world-wide interest in Wirral because of next week’s British Women’s Open at Hoylake and the return of the Open Championship in two year’s time.

“We are still talking to developers and organisations who are very keen to work with us to make this vision happen.”

He added: “Because Wirral will be in the global spotlight over the next two or three years big investors and developers are expressing interest in getting involved. ”

Consultants involved in the Hoylake/West Kirby regeneration master plan some years ago stressed that the golf resort project had to be pitched at the top end of the market if it was to rival complexes such as Gleneagles in Scotland and Celtic Manor in Wales.

The proposed golf resort would add significantly to the so-called England’s Golf Coast stretching from Wirral to Cumbria’s Solway Coast.

The coastal stretch includes three Open Championship venues – Royal Liverpool, Royal Birkdale and Royal Lytham St Anne’s.