New location Basingstoke golf centre revealed

The borough’s sports complex is being proposed as an option to relocate facilities currently on offer at Basingstoke Golf Centre, if a new indoor water park resort is built on the land the facility currently sits on.

This follows the council agreeing a conditional deal in July 2024 for Great Wolf Resorts to build an indoor water park resort on land next to the leisure park after the major US-based leisure operator identified an interest in bringing one of its family attractions to Basingstoke.

Basingstoke Golf Centre is owned by the council, managed by Basingstoke and Deane Community Leisure Trust and operated by Serco and currently provides a par-three nine-hole golf course, an 18-hole adventure golf zone and a floodlit driving range.

Following the review of sites in the council’s ownership, land at Down Grange Sports Complex is being proposed as the most suitable site to take forward for more detailed investigation in a report to be discussed by the council’s decision-making Cabinet at a meeting on Tuesday 7 January.

The site has the potential to accommodate a six-hole pitch and putt course, which could operate as a 12-hole course with dual tees, with space for an adventure golf course and golf-pod style driving range.

The proposed Great Wolf resort, which would complement the facilities at the Aquadrome with a different type of offer, could feature a 500-bedroom hotel, an indoor water park, conference facilities, and leisure activities including mini-golf, mini-bowling, ropes course, games arcade and selection of restaurants, cafés and bars, all subject to getting planning permission.

Committed

Cabinet Member for Sports, Leisure and Culture Cllr Kerry Morrow said:

“We are committed to investing in sports and leisure facilities across the borough as part of our support for grassroot sports. The facilities currently on offer at Basingstoke Golf Centre provide a great opportunity for new and existing golfers to practice their skills before moving on to larger golf courses. That is why we are committed to re-providing these facilities as part of a strong sport and leisure offer in Basingstoke and Deane.

“Following detailed investigation of the land that we own, the option we are proposing to take forward would see facilities re-provided at Down Grange Sports Complex, subject to getting planning permission, to complement the wide range of facilities currently on offer at the site. We would also look to reserve land at the leisure park to provide alternative opportunities for adventure golf and a driving range pod as part of our work to attract new operators and attractions to Basingstoke Leisure Park.

“This is the first step in carrying out more detailed investigations to explore how the facilities could be provided at the site, including talking to other sports clubs based at Down Grange and ward councillors and listening to feedback from the local community.”

For more information about the facilities on offer at Basingstoke Golf Centre, visit www.basingstoke.gov.uk/basingstoke-sports-facilities