Construction set to begin on new Hampshire golf course hotel
The 27-hole Watership Down golf course has described its planned hotel as a 'sophisticated addition to the Hampshire hotel scene'.
Twin rooms
"We are excited and cannot wait for the work to begin," Andrew Wild, general manager of the course, said.
It will be a valuable addition to our club as well as the local community. Throughout the building process we strive to incorporate environmentally responsible practices and have chosen an architectural design in keeping with the landscape in this most beautiful part of England."
The 40-bedroom hotel will feature all twin rooms, a breakfast buffet area and a relaxation zone and will be positioned as a three-star venue when doors open in autumn next year.
Sporting hotels
Construction is scheduled to begin on 22 October and will overlook the 11th green and 12th tee on one of the three nine-hole courses. The course clubhouse will also undergo a refurb as part of the works which will be creating 20 jobs within the business.
Sandford Springs is owned by Auto Trader founder Paul Gibbons' company Leaderboard Golf Group. The business already operates a 50-bedroom hotel in Thame at the Oxfordshire Hotel & Golf Resort which opened in 2010.
The Hampshire hotel is the latest meeting of the golf and hospitality industries at a time when the global golf tourism industry is thought to be worth more than $17bn annually.
- Earlier this year Turnberry golf resort announced it was branching out to target the family hotel market to top up income from corporate bookings.
- In July Wyndham Hotel Group announced a Darren Clarke-designed golf resort would be the venue for the company's first Scottish hotel.
- During the summer De Vere Group returned to manage West Midlands golfing hotel The Belfry following the property's acquisition.