MORE than 100 golfers took part in the first competition at Rhyl Golf Club since it re-opened its doors for the first time since December 2022 last weekend.
The club returned yesterday (April 7) with a Texas Scramble competition, having previously been shut for the last 15 months.
It was forced into temporary closure to accommodate the construction of a nine-foot-tall sea defence on the boundaries of Prestatyn and Rhyl.
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Funded by Welsh Government and Denbighshire County Council, the project is thought to have cost roughly £20million and protect about 2,100 properties.
A new high earth bund has been built by the course, which will act as a containment area to hold rainwater runoff.
The course has been remodelled to accommodate the new bund, meanwhile.
Mike Pritchard, spokesperson at Rhyl Golf Club, said: “It was very windy yesterday, and definitely not the best day to play golf!
“But we were adamant we were going to get this off the ground, and everyone who took part said it was so worthwhile.
“We had pretty much a full field of people competing, to give the club the best opening it possibly could have had.
“The course is open, we’re just bedding it in, and it’s obviously weather-permitting, but as far as we’re concerned, if we can allow people on to play, we will.
“We do a competition every Saturday for all members, and all of the competition sheets for the foreseeable future have been signed up for fully.
“Feedback from our members has been overwhelmingly positive; it’s something they think is going to be really exciting for them, so it’s looking very positive indeed.”
Rhyl Golf Club, a nine-hole course which has been in existence since 1890, was previously earmarked as a potential flood plain.
Next on the club’s agenda is building a new carbon neutral clubhouse, which it is aiming to open by the start of next year.
It follows proposals to demolish and replace much of its existing clubhouse receive planning permission late last year.
Mike’s vision is for Rhyl Golf Club become “the greenest golf club in Wales”.
He added: “In may, we start building the footings for the new clubhouse, and if everything goes to plan, by the end of February 2025, we should be in a position to open it.
“I want us to do our bit for climate change, and for supplying green energy into the region.
“We’re a Rhyl club and I’m proud of the fact we’re one of the most original features of Rhyl, going back to the 1800s.”
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