New leisure facilities could be introduced at a golf club to keep up with a change in customer demands.
The owners of Greetham Valley Golf and Country Club want to build a swimming pool, spa and padel courts to broaden the venue’s appeal.
It was bought by The Club Company last year and the company is now planning a significant investment to bring Greetham in line with its 17 other country clubs by combining golf with other leisure facilities.
Greetham Valley.
In its planning application to Rutland County Council the company said: “The business model for golf clubs has fundamentally changed over recent years. At the time of the 1990s boom in golf course construction, golf clubs could be financially viable solely on the basis of membership subscriptions.
“However, club membership numbers throughout the country have fallen steadily over the last 20 years as many golfers struggle to find time for a regular playing commitment, often choosing a pay as you go basis instead.
“The modern reality is that many clubs cannot survive unless they offer a range of attractions and activities to provide a critical mass of attraction in the face of increased competition from other leisure providers. This has led to the diversification of golf clubs to provide health and leisure facilities and visitor accommodation.”
The plans for Greetham Valley include a single-storey extension to the back of the building which would house an 8m by 20m swimming pool. Further proposals include using the function room as a gym studio and building three padel courts on the current bowling green.
Find out about planning applications that affect you at the Public Notice Portal
The Club Company says the green is currently only used once a week for four months of the year, whereas demand for the padel courts at its other venues far outweighs bookings for other sports facilities. It combines elements of tennis and squash. It is played on a smaller court with glass walls and is usually played in doubles. Players use solid racquets to hit a smaller, softer ball over the net but can also bounce it off the walls.
If plans are approved the development is expected to create the equivalent of 16 full-time jobs through lifeguard, maintenance, instructor and receptionist roles.
Greetham Valley’s current facilities include two 18-hole golf courses, a 9-hole course, a function suite, conference rooms, 25 hotel bedrooms and eight self-catering lodges.
A decision on the proposal (2025/0831/FUL) will be made by Rutland County Council.
Burghley Park Golf Club is also waiting for a council to decide whether padel courts can be built on its site.
Plans for two new padel courts were resubmitted to Peterborough City Council in June having previously been withdrawn due to concerns about the loss of trees.
The planning application was submitted by Padel X for the site on the edge of Stamford.