Vale of Llangollen GC Aims to Become a First-Class Membership Club
One of North Wales’ most popular golf clubs for green fee-paying visitors is well on the way to achieving its long-term aim of also being a first-class option when it comes to membership.
Vale of Llangollen Golf Club has seen extensive investment in the course in the last couple of years and employed former Sandwell Park, Royal Lytham and Old Padeswood greenkeeper Rob Lydon as its course manager, then, last autumn, they took on highly regarded new stewards in Paul and Martyn from MAP Services.
Now they believe the final piece of the jigsaw has been slotted into place following the appointment of a new, young and enthusiastic club professional who has teamed up with a popular Chester-based golf retailer.
Greg Purdie, who was a junior member of the club and assistant to former pro Matt Davies (now head pro at Hazel Grove Golf Club) has taken on the role as Llangollen’s club professional and part of his interview presentation that impressed the board so much was the link-up with Foregolf.
“It means members now have a wider choice of clothing and hardware, while still being competitive on price and offering a personal service,” explained board member Steve Cooke.
Foregolf’s James Hughes, who also has a similar arrangement at Mold and Pwllheli golf clubs, added: “It was a pretty quick turnaround from putting something together and Greg opening. Usually, all our buying is done well in advance.
“We moved a few things around to make it work as best possible to get opened. Now we’ve had time to stock the shop appropriately it’s looking great. Greg has taken the role in his stride, the club have a very enthusiastic young professional at their service.
“Between us and Greg we try to stock the shop at Llangollen with as much variety as possible. If it’s not in Llangollen then it can be on the next delivery.
“Matt did a great job for us and was here for 10 years, but it’s fantastic to now have Greg in the role. He knows the members, he’s young and enthusiastic, he is fluid in his approach and is well liked by the members.
“The setting here at Llangollen is absolutely stunning so we have never had a problem getting green fee-paying golfers here or filling our Opens, but there is now a real desire to focus more on our existing members and bringing in new ones.
“We have released more tee times to members this year and will cut back on the number of Opens and large visiting societies from now on.
“The course is settled in an area of outstanding natural beauty and is our biggest asset, but up until Rob’s appointment the course was only ok.
“Since he’s come in, the place has been transformed. He’s given the whole team a new lease of life with his positive approach to everything.
“Rob has really got under the skin of the course and done some major work to improve drainage and playability. The work has been that good that we have now become one of the drier courses in the area when the weather is wet.”
Rob and the team have had considerable investment to aid them. Additional funds have been spent on treatments for the course, equipment and staff and to create two boreholes that will be used during drier spells of weather to keep the course irrigated.
“We are right by the River Dee but are very limited with how we can use it in terms of irrigation, so the boreholes will be a godsend,” added Steve.
“We saw these course improvements as the key to increasing membership,” said club manager Hayley Henson, who also believes the new stewards have made a huge difference.
“The previous incumbents were preparing for retirement last year so it was great for us to be able to freshen things up and recruit Martyn and Paula, who have been like a breath of fresh air.
“Like with Rob, the feedback has all been so positive.”
With everything now in place, Hayley, Steve and the team are now hoping more people will join up as members to enjoy it regularly for themselves.
“We are quite flexible with our membership deals and have a variety of offerings,” explained Hayley.
Our membership fees are very competitive and we think represent great value. Our lifestyle membership is even more cost-effective and is popular with those who don’t play quite so regularly as they still enjoy the majority of the benefits of being a full member.
The club uses a BRS Golf system that is very straightforward for members to use. As a lifestyle member you pay £470 and that earns you 100 points.
Typically, an off-peak round of golf uses just four points (playing in a Saturday competition would use up eight points) and this is knocked off your total and is very simple to keep track of via the app.
“We will be running our winter membership deal again this year following its success last year.
“Unlike most other clubs, our winter membership starts at the beginning of October.
“Last year a lot of new members on the winter deal witnessed the dry course conditions for themselves as well as seeing all the hard work that was taking place by Rob and his team.”
So keen are the club to get golfers down to see what is on offer, they have introduced a special one-month trial membership this summer.
“If you sign up and pay £89 before the end of July, you get to play the course seven days a week with access to midweek competitions. If you then join as a full member at the end of your trial month, the £89 is knocked off your 2024/25 subs.”
“It’s a fabulous offer and one we are looking forward to local golfers taking up.”
Header photo courtesy of Vale of Llangollen Golf Club.
