In the leisure market we are now firmly in an era where diversification and ‘experience’ for visitors is king.  Discerning customers are more willing to part with their money if they get more than the typical holiday experience and are looking for more quirky and innovative concepts.

We are now seeing this spread to golf courses, and adding some holiday lodges or pods to a course is a great way to stand out from the crowd. 

Golf courses are well suited to the addition of holiday lodges for a number of reasons. The scenic location of many courses make them an attractive proposition for those looking to get away from the hustle and bustle. Golf courses are also established tourism destinations with people willing to travel to have time away from their local courses.

This makes it more viable to add accommodation to the land and provides a convenient base for keen golfers and a peaceful retreat for those not so keen.

There are several key considerations when applying for planning permission to add holiday lodges on a golf course. It is important to fully consider the economic viability and number of lodges to ensure the business will be profitable. This can be done by checking the anticipated sale and rental values of the lodge properties against the development costs.

The inclusion of site facilities will also have to be given some thought. If lodges are placed closer to the main golf course and its facilities, there will be less need to develop a separate set of services than if the accommodation is further away.

Golf courses that are liable to flooding from rivers or the sea are difficult to promote and it is also challenging to secure permission for development near any listed buildings, conservation areas or on courses that lie within the green belt.

There are a number of benefits to adding holiday lodges to a golf course, primarily the diversification of income for the owners thereby reducing the reliance upon membership and fees. It may also encourage more golfers to visit the course and open it up to ‘pay as you play’ business and a wider catchment.

There is also the more overlooked benefit of creating a rural tourism business which can generate additional employment and off-site spend into the local community all of which are key focal points to support a positive planning application.

Further information

Contact Savills Leisure Planning