Golfers whose games ended up in the rough after Horton Park Golf Couse went into administration are all set for a happy golfing future.
Maple Leaf Golf which owns Chichester and Hill Barn Golf Clubs in Sussex, has acquired Horton Park Golf Club from the administrators in a £2 million deal.
Horton Park, which went into administration in December 2008, was bought after a hotly contested bidding war with a number of serious bids being received by the administrators.
Peter Townson, who has been running the site on behalf of the administrators, said "We are delighted with the outcome. Maple Leaf Golf are an established golf operator with an excellent track record, it was just what this business needs."
Paul Williams of MCR, one of the joint administrators commented that he “was delighted with the positive outcome which not only secures the long term future of the course for its members and the community generally but also secures many local jobs and brings a degree of certainty to the area in such uncertain times”.
Maple Leaf Golf acquired Chichester Golf Club which has two 18 hole courses, a driving range and a Par 3 course, in 1999.
In 2003 it acquired Hill Barn Golf Club, from Worthing Borough Council.
Richard Haygarth will with his wife Sally be running the new site and own Maple Leaf Gold.
He said: “We are very excited about Horton Park. It is one of the best courses in the area and fits perfectly with our existing businesses."
Plans for Horton Park include a new irrigation system, a new fleet of green keeping machinery and the purchase of 20,000 range balls.
Mr Haygarth said: “It’s a great business with excellent staff that just needs the proper investment."
Members at Maple Leaf Golf clubs will be allowed to play at all the company’s facilities so Epsom golfers will be able to stride out on greens in Chichester and Worthing without putting their hands in their pockets.
Club secretary, John Prichard said: ‘It’s a great outcome for the members who will get a secure golfing future and an even better course’”
The name Maple Leaf Golf derives from owners’, Richard and Sally Haygarth’s time in Canada in the 1990s.
Richard and Sally were both partners with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Toronto having trained as chartered accountants in London.
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