FWP Golf expertise comes to the fore

It is 18 years since leading sports and leisure architecture practice Frank Whittle Partnership (FWP) began work to create a new £1.2million clubhouse at Leyland Golf Club after the original building was destroyed by fire.

Over the years, the award-winning building, with its contemporary design and stylish interior, has become an asset to the Lancashire club and the wider community.

Daniel Thompson, partner at FWP, said: “It is a testimony to the design quality that Leyland’s clubhouse has stood the test of time and remains a striking building that really stands out as a great example of what clubs can achieve.

“A large part of the brief was to create facilities that would be a real source of revenue and an asset for both club members and the local community.

“The FWP team at the time worked closely with the club’s committee to ensure the new facility met those requirements.

“The result is a clubhouse that is well-loved by members and has grown in status locally as a functions venue.

“The interior design really complements the building and is contemporary, yet warm and welcoming.

“The clubhouse is the focal point of every golf club and it is not just about the experience for members.

“For most clubs the entertainment and hospitality facilities available are vitally important as a revenue stream, so it is important to get them right.”

The award-winning Leyland scheme resulted in a contemporary two storey structure with a double height frameless glass entrance and circulation zone.

The building provides excellent views from the first-floor bar and function spaces over the golf course beyond.

Construction work on the £1.3million project began in September 2001 and the building was officially opened 12 months later.

Mark Greenwood, who was club chairman during the rebuild, said: “The clubhouse has been a fantastic asset to the club and its function spaces have been a strong source of revenue for us. It is a very popular local venue for a whole host of events and functions.

“Members are all very proud of the building, which offers fantastic views of the course and has become much-loved by everyone associated with the club.”

FWP, which has offices in Preston, Manchester and London, has recently completed the £1.25m refurbishment of the clubhouse at Fairhaven Golf Course on the Fylde Coast.

Fairhaven’s ground floor dining room has been extended, along with a new bar area. The clubhouse’s first-floor bar has undergone refurbishment, modern office facilities have been created and a first-floor extension now sites over the pro-shop and men’s locker room.

Daniel, who led the FWP team on the project alongside associate partner and interior designer David Simmons, said: “The objective was to appeal to all generations of the membership.

“Quality sits at the heart of our transformation, giving members a five-star hotel experience, through the choice of luxury materials and high-class finishes throughout the clubhouse.”

He added: “The new function room was a massively important part of the project. The facility is now one of the best in the area and will allow the club to gain important revenue in the future, again for the benefit of its members.

“It meets one of the main aims, which was to give Fairhaven longevity and the ability to operate as a hospitality business as well as a highly-successful golf club.”

Photo courtesy of the Chorley Guardian.