Author: Amy Hitchmough

Earlier this week, Sefton Council hosted an event to celebrate the official launch of the new driving range at Bootle Golf Course.

Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Clare Louise Carragher was joined by pupils from nearby Litherland Moss Primary and Litherland High School and the Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Ian Moncur, to help the new facility swing into action.

Since its opening at the end of January, the 10-bay Bootle Golf Course driving range has proven popular with local players and newcomers to the game. Last week 18,750 balls were sold and 36 under 16s took part in the recent half-term offer of a free bucket of balls.

Speaking at Monday’s event, the Mayor of Sefton, said:
“We proudly describe Sefton as the centre of England’s Golf Coast, and it is wonderful to see the Council continue to develop our sports offering and promote fit and healthy lifestyles.

“The new driving range will mean golfers, both new and experienced, in Sefton will be able to practise all year round.”

For many of the local pupils, Monday was an opportunity to try out the sport for the first time. There were smiles aplenty and air shots all round.

Cllr Moncur, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said:
“As a Council, we have a firm commitment to investment in sports facilities for all of our residents.

“We are fortunate in our Borough to have a wide range of opportunities for golfers and now we hope the new driving range will provide many more people with a chance to try golf and take it up as a sport.

“A huge thank you to Green Sefton for their hard work in delivering and managing the fantastic new driving range facility.”

Sefton Council’s decision to build the new £420,000 floodlit driving range at Bootle Golf Course was backed by local people and course users during a consultation that took place in 2019.

Players can use its 10-bays to practise their swing between 8am and 9pm Sunday to Friday and from 8am to 7pm on Saturdays. Prices are just £6 for 100 balls or £4 for 50 and people can just turn up to the course shop, pay and play.

Adult prices to play a round at Bootle Golf Course start at just £9. Information about Sefton Council’s Bootle and Southport Links courses, including prices, can be found at www.sefton.gov.uk/golf.

People can also contact the Bootle Golf course office on 0151 928 1371 to book tee times.

At their meeting on Thursday 10th March, Sefton Council’s Cabinet gave the go-ahead for the Council’s Green Sefton team to seek a commercial partner to invest in its Southport Golf Links course.

Improvements for the course itself and the on-site White House Café building are included in the plans.

At the time Cllr Moncur said an investment partnership would enable the Council to achieve its huge, long-term potential and deliver the kind of course on which local golfers have said they would like to play.

Sefton Council is reminding people interested in one of its vacancies for Green Sefton Rangers have just until Sunday 27^th February to apply.

People interested in working outdoors, including on Sefton’s beautiful, 22-mile Nature Coast and beaches, in its beautiful parks and green spaces and on its popular Bootle Golf Course, can find links at www.sefton.gov.uk/jobs 

Some of the roles are seasonal and involve shift working while others are permanent and largely Monday to Friday.

As well as advising and assisting the public, Seasonal Coast Maintenance rangers would be carrying out litter picking, sand removal and occasional grounds maintenance tasks as well as emptying bins.

Grounds maintenance roles cover Sefton’s parks, and involve grass cutting, litter picking and emptying bins. One, at Bootle Golf includes general maintenance such as greenkeeping duties and ball collection on the new driving range.

Sefton Council is committed to equality and social inclusion as an employer and service provider.

Green Sefton Manager, Mark Shaw said:

“At Green Sefton we manage the Borough’s internationally recognised coastline which supports some of the rarest flora and fauna in the country, to coastal habitats rarer than rainforest.

“We look after Sefton’s busy parks and gardens and 160 other greenspaces and manage sport and recreation facilities as well as cemeteries and crematoria.

“These Ranger roles are an opportunity to join the team, to work in the outdoors and help ensure Sefton is at its best for residents and visitors.”

You can find all Sefton Council vacancies here.