Crazy golf course plans set to be hit
A crazy golf course could be built in a village near Wolverhampton in a bid to attract more children and families.
A crazy golf course could be built in a village near Wolverhampton in a bid to attract more children and families.
Halfpenny Green Golf Club in Swindon has submitted plans to the authority for a 18-hole course, featuring miniature sand bunkers, water features and a toy windmill.
The proposals for the course, over three quarters of an acre, were handed into South Staffordshire Council by the club's current owner Harbans Singh Chatha.
Mr Chatha's son, Jatinder, 26, who helps run the club with his father, want to attract more youngsters and families.
He said: "We are very much a beginners course. We get a lot of families and have a big junior academy.
"We think they would play on the mini course. We want to get them more involved. Also, if golfers bring along their wives and children, rather than them sitting in the clubhouse they can go out and have a game of miniature golf," he added.
The course will feature 18 holes, with uphill and downhill gradients and will be situated close to the first hole on the main golf course.
"It's in the early stages at the moment," Mr Chatha said.
"We don't know how much the course will cost or exactly what will be featured. If we get planning permission then we will talk about the finer details of the course.
"We thought there was a gap in the market for a course like this.
"I don't think there is another miniature course at any other golf club in the area so it's an exiting venture.
"There will be nice features such as windmills," he said.
The club's driving range will be lit up by floodlights for the first time in October. Lights are being installed next month.
"People will be able to play on the driving range up until 9pm," Mr Chatha said.
"In the past we've had to close the driving range as soon as it got dark in the winter which is only around 4pm.
"The lights will allow players to stay on there quite late." Halfpenny Green Golf Club, which features a nine hole course, opened in September 2002.
It had previously been known as Kartar Farm and was owned by farmer Harbans Singh Chatha.
Mr Chatha decided to convert the 60 acre piece of land into a golf course and driving range, which provides panoramic views of the Clee and Wrekin hills in Shropshire.
The land was previously owned by the Earl of Dudley.
Sarah Poxon, development control manager at South Staffordshire Council, said: "The course would be close to the New Road frontage which is by the first hole.
"A decision on the plans is likely to be made by October 14."
