Golf club unveils new clubhouse after arson attack

Pype Hayes Golf Club to relaunch in July after arson attack in 2009.

Alex Dawkins's picture
Tue, 4 Jun 2013
Golf club unveils new clubhouse after arson attack

A GOLF CLUB whose clubhouse was the subject of an arson attack four years ago is to be relaunched on July 31, with a brand new clubhouse at the centre of a £2m redevelopment.

The clubhouse at Pype Hayes Golf Club in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, suffered severe fire damage during the Masters week in 2009, on Easter Sunday.

The club has had to get by with portacabins since then, but will now feature a completely new clubhouse, which will also incorporate a gym, restaurant, cafe, pro shop, changing rooms and function room as part of a redevelopment that will also tweak the course itself.

Pype Hayes, founded over 80 years ago, is run by Mytime Active, after the social enterprise took over the management of all seven council-owned golf courses in Birmingham last year.

Mytime Active chief Steve Price said: "We are very excited about the plans. But it won't just be a clubhouse for golfers, it will be a facility for the local community.

"Since we took over the management of the course in spring 2012, we've invested £1m in new ground keeping equipment to keep the course playing at its optimum.

"The new club house is the next stage of the development and investment at Pype Hayes Golf Course. We are also committed to similar investment and development at our six other golf courses around Birmingham, including Boldmere."

Birmingham City Council deputy leader, Councillor Ian Ward, said: “This not only provides an excellent, long overdue facility for golfers and the local community but will herald the start of an investment plan that will transform the golfing experience in Birmingham."

To see our list of the ten top golf courses to play in Birmingham, click here.