A PLANNING application has been submitted for a nine-hole golf course at the Brows Farm golf driving range in Farnham Road, Liss.
The application is seeking a change of use of the land for use as a nine-hole golf course and an extension of the golf driving range building to provide seven additional bays with car parking and landscaping.
The applicants believe the proposed nine-hole golf course will keep elderly people involved in the game and attract new people to the sport, which could help golf clubs in the area.
Hamish Petty, who helps to manage the Brows Farm driving range, said: “Our vision is to encourage into the game beginners, the elderly and those with limited time on their hands. We hope the potential par three golf course will help achieve this.
“It is well-known that beginner golfers often struggle, take up time and disrupt play for others when on a normal golf course.
“The simplicity of the par three golf course layout will favour beginner golfers and those who struggle with length and accuracy. We believe that our par three golf course will act as a stepping stone and platform for many beginner golfers who feel they aren’t entirely ready to join a proper golf club.
“Many of the elderly give golf up due to the fact that they can’t handle a full round of golf, struggle with the length of the modern courses and find the ‘carries’ off the tees too long.
“Taking these important factors into account, we designed the course with wide fairways and short ‘carries’ to allow golfers of all ages and abilities to play at their own pace without worrying about hitting the ball far or arrow straight.
“Golf is an extremely time- consuming sport which many people suggest is why it’s not as popular as it could be. A four-ball will take between four and five hours to complete a round of golf at a normal 18-hole golf club.
“However, the proposed par three golf course will take a four-ball no longer than two hours to complete.
“We would like to think this will attract more people in to participating in golf.
“The proposed nine-hole par three golf course will act as a stepping stone for beginners to help them in the process of taking up golf and joining a full 18-hole golf club.
“This could possibly see membership numbers increase in golf courses around the local area.”
To view the plans visit www.southdowns.gov.uk/planning and search for reference SDNP/16/06320/FUL.