North East: Darlington awarded £57,000 grant

Darlington has been awarded a Sport England grant of £57,000 to invest in an all weather practice and coaching area.

The Haughton Grange club plans to use the Inspired Facilities grant to provide opportunities for people of any age, gender or background to participate and develop their talents.

Honorary secretary Mark Etherington said: “This project provides a great opportunity for all categories of golfer, new starter to professional, who need to be able to practice their game away from the course.

“We have been very fortunate to be awarded the grant and appreciate all the support we got from the local authority, the Golf Foundation and our members when we put the bid together.”
‘This will allow us to providing coaching 12 months of the year’ The 18 hole club is considered among the best in the area but Etherington said it is let down by its poor quality practice and coaching facilities. The club owns an additional 40 acres of land adjacent to the course and intend to use part of this land to provide enhanced teaching and practice facilities. 

There will be eight individual covered practice bays and new practice greens installed, and PGA head professional James Cousins added: “We have put together an exciting sport development plan and are busy preparing the programme which will include sessions for schools and local organisations ready for when we open officially at the beginning of next year’s season.”