A fast-growing business aiming to change the face of golf has set its sights on becoming the UK’s biggest operator of golf courses.

Concept Golf Ltd, headed by Paul Barran, secured the 25 year management contract to run Iford Golf Centre, now renamed Christchurch Golf Club, a year ago.

It has since acquired the rights to run Lexden Wood Golf Club in Colchester, Essex, and, most recently, Abbey Moor Golf Club in Surrey.

Around 100 people work across the golf courses and are also employed at sister companies GolfCatcher, DSM Design and South Coast Web.

Additionally, as Concept Golf Ltd continues to grow and diversify its offerings, it’s essential to prioritize the convenience and comfort of golfers on the courses.

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Among Concept Golf’s first actions at Christchurch was to invest half a million pounds on TrackMan technology for the club’s driving range of 45 outside bays.

To further enhance the golfing experience, Concept Golf is now turning its attention to indoor golf facilities. Clubhouse Golf offers cutting-edge technology, ensuring an immersive and enjoyable indoor golf experience.

Whether it’s honing skills, enjoying a round with friends, or simply avoiding the unpredictable weather, Clubhouse Golf aims to cater to the diverse needs of golf enthusiasts.

The expansion into indoor facilities demonstrates Concept Golf’s commitment to revolutionizing the golfing landscape and adapting to the evolving preferences of players.

A major project to create a central hub, including a new bar, is due for completion soon.

It’s also planned to convert the existing restaurant into a sports bar, flip the course so the finishing hole is closer to the club house and also create new office space.

Jamie Kinvig, Director of Group Sales & Marketing for Concept Golf, GolfCatcher, DSM Design and South Coast Web, said: “We want to do things differently.

“We want to bring people into golf who don’t necessarily feel they can go to certain clubs based on an old school golf mentality.

“We believe it should be golf for everybody.

“Whether you’re a beginner, casual, leisure or a serious golfer there’s some part of our golf club that you can relate to.”

An 18-hole course, the renamed Christchurch Golf Club was home to GolfCatcher’s five indoor simulators before an opportunity came up to also run the driving range in December 2021.

In April 2022 a further conversation with Ali Saud, owner of Playgolf and holder of the club’s lease with BCP Council, resulted in Concept Golf taking over the management contract for the whole course.

Jamie, who worked for American Golf, Europe’s largest golf retailer, for 18 years before joining GolfCatcher as General Manager, said: “Once we took over Christchurch Golf Club, Lexden Wood Golf Club in Essex came up for negotiation.

“We took that over very quickly, about a month later, and then, in March this year, Abbey Moor came up.

“The range at Christchurch was our first investment with TrackMan costing in the region of half a million pounds.

“TrackMan has always been the leading radar technology but they’d never really delved into the range market.

“The driving range is the hub and where people come, not only members but the casual ‘pay and play’ golfer.

“We have the largest range in Dorset and probably the second biggest range in the UK.

“Our strapline is the ‘largest TrackMan 360 solution range in the world’.

“That incorporates the indoor simulator rooms that we’ve got as well as the outdoor.

“The golf course and the club house has had its identity for 20 years and it’s probably stuck where it was maybe 15 years ago.

“We’re hoping the Trackman technology and new sports bar will bring it more to where we want to be.

“Our plans for the actual course is to flip it on its head so effectively the first hole will become the 18th and the 18th will become the first.

“It makes the finishing hole a lot closer to the club and creates a better atmosphere.

“What’s great is that we’ve got the biggest open demographic that you can see.

“If a three year old wants to come down to the driving range I’d feel comfortable bringing him down here in the environment, based on what we’re trying to create.

“There is no elitism or bracket of where you can come from in terms of background or wealth.

“We’re also trying to keep the pricing structure within the realms of what’s acceptable for the masses.

“Paul has got the vision that he wants to be the biggest operator of golf courses in the UK.

“The largest at the moment holds around 15 courses.

“We’re also hoping to create a blueprint so we can offer consultancy services to other clubs, essentially a version of the MOT.

“Paul is also very passionate about becoming almost self-sufficient and off the grid completely.

“Golf clubs lend themselves very well to this.

“We’re working with a company in the golfing market where we’re able to offer solar panelling on large commercial properties with a zero capex (capital expenditure).

“Huge savings can be made and with about 4,000 golf courses across the country the potential is huge.

“What we’ve done in 12 months is unique.

“To go from a five day simulator driving range business to running three golf courses within a 12 month period, and sustainable golf courses at that, and taking on three very quickly is amazing.

“Having seen the vision and what we’ve done in 12 months, what we can then do in another 12 months and then another 12 months beyond that is incredibly exciting.”

• christchurchgolf.club