New adventure golf course planned for Middleton

A CGI view from the planned golf bays

A new golf adventure course could soon be coming to Middleton.

Bowlee Park Driving Range currently serves its customers solely as a driving range, but plans to become much more than that. A new covered adventure golf course, a second floor of driving range bays and an indoor golf area are part of the plans to upgrade the facilities.

The site off Heywood Old Road has an ambition to provide the best facilities to help golfers of all levels to improve and enjoy golf practice, according to the planning statement. 

The driving range itself has recently benefited from significant investment in recent months with Trackman Technology in every bay – helping customers analyse their golf ball’s flight and motion in the air.

An extension of the existing car park to 102 spaces as well as new ball protection netting and a new ball servant area are also part of the proposal put before Rochdale Council.

The applicant, Improve My Golf Ltd (which operates the site), believes this redevelopment could make the golf facility a key attraction for visitors in the Manchester and Middleton area.

The applicants cited the success of the Bents Barton Grange Garden Centre Trafford Driving Ranges as an example of how this has become a popular attraction for families as well as golfers. 

Planning papers, stating the vision of the project, read: “To create an inspirational golf practising development with a new adventure golf attraction in an area of Middleton, which has benefited from investment in recent years including Trackman Technology.

“To create a high quality development that is permeable to the surrounding area and integrated into the surrounding park setting.

“To create a new facility which supports and is part of the wider community. An adventure golf park in which the whole family can interact with golf.

“To create a modern sustainable development that is aspirational, easy to maintain and built to last – a place for people to enjoy for years to come, a sustainable community.”

Part of the existing building structure will have to be demolished to make way for the new development. The roof over the new adventure golf course will also be retractable to ‘maximise the openness’, planning papers read.

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter