A professional golfer who played his first-ever round on the Approach Golf Course, in Royal Victoria Park is returning to where it all began to help shape the future of its golf and footgolf facilities and encourage more people to get involved.
PGA professional Louis Boston will lead the new operation through his company, The Short Game Co, which took over the park’s golf and footgolf facilities at the start of the month under a new contract with Bath & North East Somerset Council.
Louis Boston said: “I played my first ever round of golf at Royal Victoria Park in the summer of 1997, aged 10, with my dad. So many people in Bath share that same story, whether they started golf here or have enjoyed it with their families over the years, so to have the opportunity to come back and play a part in the future of this site means an enormous amount to me.
“Growing up in a working-class family in Bath, golf was never an obvious sport to fall into, but Royal Victoria Park made it possible. It was close, affordable and welcoming, and that access is the reason I went on to become a PGA professional.
“Golf and coaching here will be for everyone, whatever their age, ability or background. We want this to be a front door into golf, and to rebuild the junior academies and pathways that this site and Entry Hill once provided, giving young players a clear route from their first swing through to the larger golf clubs. Above all, we want to leave a lasting legacy for the people and the city of Bath.”
Councillor Alison Born, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: “We are delighted to welcome The Short Game Co as the new operator of the golf and footgolf facilities at Royal Victoria Park. Louis’s personal connection with the course and his ambition to make golf accessible to people from all backgrounds make this an exciting new chapter for the facility.
“Royal Victoria Park is an important part of Bath’s leisure offer and we want people to have opportunities to be active, try something new and enjoy sport in a welcoming environment. We look forward to working with The Short Game Co team to encourage even more people to enjoy golf and footgolf.”
The appointment of The Short Game Co secures the longer-term future of golf and footgolf at the park following an interim arrangement with Excel Tennis during September and October. The council put the temporary arrangement in place after previous operator Future Golf Ventures ceased trading on 31 August.
Winter opening hours are 8am to 4pm Wednesday to Friday, and 9am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday.
The site will be closed every Monday and Tuesday throughout the winter while work is carried out on the course and cafe. The aim is to be fully operational by spring.
Plans for each stage of the site’s development will be displayed at the course in the coming weeks.
