South West Round-up: Wrangaton sold out of liquidation
The future of Dartmoor’s historic Wrangaton has been secured following its sale to nearby Bovey Tracey.
The club entered liquidation after experiencing declining memberships, but the two former competitors have now been brought under the same ownership.
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A statement from the new owners, the Barter family of Bovey Tracey, said: “We are delighted and honoured to be taking on ownership of Wrangaton and will be working hard, together with our staff to ensure its future success.
‘The two clubs will each retain their own identity’ “Being located in such a beautiful part of the world, we know there is real potential for the club to increase its membership and attract golfers from across the country.”
Wrangaton formed in 1895 and five members of staff were made redundant after it entered liquidation.
The statement continued: “Crucially, we see Wrangaton as complementary to Bovey Tracey. The two clubs will each retain their own identity, but members will have the opportunity for dual membership if they wish, enabling them to play both courses.”
‘Lucky Mike’ bags four aces following first-ever lesson
After 43 years playing golf, Mike Travis decided to have lessons, and then followed it up with four holes-in-one in five years.
The Parley, Dorset, golfer spent an hour with a professional in 2010 and shortly afterwards holed the 146-yard 7th hole.
Between then and this Easter he nailed three more aces, with the father of six being dubbed ‘Lucky Mike’ by his fellow players.
The glut of aces means Travis has now scored more than anyone else in the history of the club. Prior to the lesson, he had not scored a hole-in-one despite 40 years of playing.
He said: “Of course you’re always trying to score a hole-in-one but you never expect it – it really comes down to luck. I was fortunate that I saw all of mine go down the hole – some people don’t actually get to see the ball drop.”
St Mellion resort put on the market
Cornwall’s St Mellion International resort has become the latest big-name UK venue to be put up for sale.
The decision to sell by owner Crown Golf comes despite a period of continuous growth at the venue, which reopened in 2009.
Chief executive officer Stephen Towers said: “With the grant of the planning permission for the new holiday homes, St Mellion now represents an enormous opportunity as a property development to the right buyer.
Approval has been granted for 265 holiday homes on the 325-acre site, but Towers said that as this development is outside the core business of Crown Golf, the company had decided to put the resort up for sale.
He added: “Meanwhile it remains business as usual at the resort and we look forward to giving a warm St Mellion-style welcome to many thousands of golfers this season, as we always do.”
Club shop member tied up during burglary
A staff member was threatened with a crowbar and tied up during an aggravated burglary at Bridport and West Dorset.
The staff member was closing up the premises when he was approached in the car park by the suspect, who was wearing dark clothing.
He told the victim to re-open the clubhouse, then went to the safe and stole an amount of cash.
Before leaving the club, the suspect tied up the staff member by binding him by the hands and feet. However, he was able to alert his friends, who contacted the police.
A club member told the Dorset Echo: “I was one of the last people to come in on the night it happened.
“I think there was only a young lad there on his own. It’s such a terrible thing to go through.”
