A DRIVE to find a new way of funding Wirral's municipal golf courses is being revived - six months after a bid to attract private sector investment failed.

A report going to council cabinet tonight says finding a "partner" to run and manage the courses would save the authority £330,000 per year.

The exercise will not be without its difficulties.

The review says it would appear that 2011 was a peak year for golf and 2014 was the lowest recorded.

It adds: "This is surprising bearing in mind the Open championship was played at the Royal Liverpool and we would have expected to see a significant upward trend in participation following a global event."

It points out that further multi-million pound Government budget cuts are coming down the track and leisure services is tasked with saving £1m.

Cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture Cllr Chris Meaden said: "We are not attempting to 'sell-off' our golf courses, they're important public assets.

"This is about finding other ways of managing them.

"We're looking at alternative ways of providing the service and will be asking officers to review the position and come back with a report."

Councillor Meaden added no major decisions will be made until the new report is examined and its implications fully understood.

However, the recommendation to cabinet is that whatever the outcome, the annual subsidy must come to an end; the requirement for affordable and accessible "pay and play" golf  has to be maintained and investment in the courses and facilities should be secured. 

Last November, hopes of finding a private sector buyer landed in the bunker when only four companies expressed any serious interest - and of those only one was considered to be of suitable quality.

The attempted sell-off was a joint initiative by Wirral and Cheshire West & Chester authorities, designed to reduce spending for both "while at the same time improving facilities through private money."

A spokesman said at the time: “The general standard and quality of bids was very poor for such a large contract to be delivered over a 25-year period.”

Courses affected are Arrowe Park, Brackenwood, Bebington, the Warren, Wallasey beach pitch-and-putt and King's Parade mini-golf.

Hoylake is not included as it is earmarked for a major "Golf Coast" development scheme.