Ashton-in-Makerfield Golf Club: "Flexibility is crucial and we've moved with the times"

A par-70 course offering a number of narrow tree-lined fairways and small greens to test golfers of all levels, Ashton holds regular competitions throughout the year for all sections of its membership (Men, Ladies, Seniors, and Juniors) and boasts just under 500 golfers as members as well as just under 20 members of staff.

"I joined in 1976 as a junior member and played at a county level for 30 years," said Manager Garry Lacy, 56. "I manage everything from the greens staff to the bar - everybody reports to me and every member of the team is important. I enjoy it; it's really busy and the golf course is there but I don't have time to play! It's a demanding job, but as a golf club we're doing well which is good.

"We host everything from weddings to funerals and christenings and we hire out the facilities for meetings - as a business it's not just about the golf course, you've got to generate income and be a 21st century business," added Garry, from Garswood. "Flexibility is crucial and we've moved with the times."

Recently, the club opened a state-of-the-art indoor teaching facility to offer golfers a unique chance to improve their game with the help of the club pro, Peter Allan, who has been at Ashton since 1980 and in, in 2009, went to the European Senior Tour Qualifying school in Portugal and finished 3rd.

"We're very fortunate because our membership is great: it's friendly and we're a very social golf club with functions most weekends," said Garry. "There are very few Saturdays when there's not something going on and even during the winter there'll be about 70 or 80 people in the club and it's bouncing. There's a nice feel to the place and there's pride in that."