Four-time super-middleweight world champion Carl Froch has come out to protect a golf club in Nottingham. The club’s future is under huge threat from a new housing development.  

Just four miles from the centre of Nottingham, Mapperley Golf Club was established more than a century ago. Now, Gedling Borough Council wants to transform it into a development site.

“First of all, for selfish reasons, I use the club,” Froch posted. “I play in a lot of different clubs around Nottingham. We go all over the place and to be honest, I don’t see how you can be looking at getting rid of something that’s been there since 1907.”

The Gedling Borough Council is aiming to meet the government's overall housing target of 11,484 new homes by 2043. According to their Local Development Plan, the golf course could potentially provide space for 750 new homes, as reported by Bunkered.

The former boxing star has often teed up at the club and pointed out that it’s still popular. It holds a special place for the local community. 

“It’s going to have a massive negative impact on the community. I think it’s disgusting,” Froch added.

The club leases the land from the council. While their contract ends in 2030, they would likely want an extension.

The club’s officer also expressed his feelings about the course.

Mapperley GC’s officer speaks about the club

Alan Pickard, the club’s officer, is spearheading the Save Mapperley Golf Club campaign as a lead co-ordinator as per the same Bunkered report.  He revealed that the club knew about the oncoming threat. 

As Froch mentioned the course’s essence, Pickard dropped his own story.

“We’ve got members from age ten up to 80-plus, men and women,” Pickard said, as per Bunkered. “It is a real haven and a mix of people who go there. From personal experience, it’s been a real godsend to me as a place of refuge in times when I’ve not had work, for example, after Covid, it was the only place I saw other adults for months on end.”

The developers will require official confirmation from the council if their plan is put into action.

Moreover, the council released a statement regarding the club’s lease. It stated that “no decision has been made on the renewal of this lease.”

A public consultation on the local plan closes on 3rd August. 

Do you think the Gedling Borough Council should move ahead with its Local Development Plan? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Written by

Avishek Sarkar

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote