City’s golf partner unveils vision to make Allerton Manor the region’s premier public golf destination.

Liverpool City Council’s golf operating partner, Green Circle, is today unveiling an ambitious vision to transform Allerton Manor golf course into the region’s premier public golf destination. The £15 million vision will be funded entirely by private investment, but it will safeguard the public status of the course and the principle of affordable pay and play golf for all. On completion the scheme will create up to 150 new permanent jobs and safeguard the Green Wedge status of the Allerton Manor site for future generations. The exciting proposals are set out in a full planning application to Liverpool City Council which proposes:

  • Reconfiguring Allerton Manor’s existing 18 and 9-hole courses to create a much- improved par 72 Championship course with a new driving range and putting area.
  • A purpose-built golf pavilion / club house comprising a new golf shop, changing and locker rooms, state of the art teaching facilities including indoor practice putting area and golf simulators.
  • A new family-friendly adventure golf course.
  • The restoration and conversion of the Grade II Listed, but seriously dilapidated and at risk, Allerton Manor house to create a 31-bed boutique hotel, spa and function space.

Green Circle’s Director of Golf Bryan Joelson-Mulhall said;

“Following our appointment by Liverpool City Council as their golf operating partner, we have made a substantial investment to improve facilities at both Allerton Manor and Kirby Valley, but we always had longer term ambitions to create facilities that would set new standards and match the best private clubs whilst maintaining a ‘golf for all’ ethos. Golf is a dynamic changing game with a growing and more diverse market demographic. There is a huge opportunity to improve and diversify the offer at Allerton Manor to create a vibrant, attractive and accessible golf destination for every age-group and ability level – from those who want the challenge of a genuine par 72 Championship course, to those wanting to learn the game, develop their skills or enjoy a fun round of adventure golf.”

As well as upgrading the range and quality of Allerton’s golf offer, the proposals include the complete restoration of the severely dilapidated and at-risk Grade II Listed Manor House with a stunning contemporary addition to create a 31-bed boutique hotel, spa and function space.

Green Circle’s Operation’s Manager, Craig Coley explained:

“We want to create a family leisure destination that offers more than an enjoyable and affordable game of golf. The leisure sector is enormously competitive, so expanding our offer to provide excellent food and hospitality is an absolute must. We are proposing to complete the restoration of Allerton Manor’s derelict but Listed buildings and create a golf and family leisure destination with a unique sense of place.”

The sensitive restoration reflects an overarching commitment to conservation and ecology that has guided every aspect of Green Circle’s approach. The new golf pavilion / club house is a partly sunken structure to minimise visual impact, featuring a living green wall and sedum roof to blend into its green setting and create new habitats. The course reconfiguration and the comprehensive site management and maintenance plan have also been conceived to ensure greater biodiversity and habitat creation.    

Green Circle’s ecology advisor Lyn Eccles-Sargeant from Ecology Services commented:   

“The Allerton Manor site has considerable ecology and landscape value. It is an integral part of the South Liverpool green wedge, and it’s therefore vital that we respect and cherish the site’s ecology, enrich bio-diversity, create new habitats and safeguard the site’s landscape value for future generations. These proposals achieve all of these objectives.”

Green Circle are inviting neighbours, stakeholders and the golf course estate’s many users to provide feedback on the plans as part of the planning consultation process and will be holding a public open day on Saturday the 3rd of August from 11am until 4pm.    

Green Circle’s Operations Director, Yvonne Jackson, commented:

“We are now operating 4 public golf courses in partnership with local authorities across the North West, and we are committed to an ambitious investment strategy to upgrade all of these courses including our other Liverpool course at Kirkby Valley, so we are absolutely determined to get this one right and develop a much-improved offer that re-defines public golf and promotes greater access and participation.”

The Green Circle model has won high level endorsement from England Golf. Lancashire Secretary, Phil Harvey said;

“Public golf courses are vital to the future of the game and the development of world-class talent, but they are also places where everyone can learn, play and enjoy a great game. Green Circle are a company with a positive and progressive approach and their vision for Allerton Manor is a really exciting one. It’s about creating a top-quality golf course and the very best facilities whilst ensuring they remain affordable and accessible to all. I believe their innovative and imaginative approach is creating a new model that will help the success and growth of golf in the future.”