Plans for hundreds more homes on a Nottingham golf course could spark “real anger” in the community, with club officials claiming the council has “bitten off more than they can chew” over the controversial scheme.
The chair of Mapperley Golf Club spoke out as Gedling Borough Council’s cabinet is set to decide later this week on its updated ‘draft’ local development plan.
This outlines which areas in the borough could be allocated for several thousand new homes between 2028 and 2043.
Key areas of green space, including parts of the borough’s countryside, have been included, which may see more rural areas developed and smaller villages expanded.
One particular area of land is Mapperley Golf Club, which could be earmarked for hundreds of new homes in the future.
The authority – which owns the land – is pushing forward with plans for the site off Plains Road and Central Avenue to potentially be used for up to 750 houses.
The 18-hole club has existed for more than 120 years, and its membership has been growing over the last year.
Paul Cookson, 57, chairman of Mapperley Golf Club,said he is “100 per cent confident” the club will still be there in 10 years.
He said: “We’ve been expecting this; however, I think [the council] has bitten off more than they can chew because of the covenant on the land. The problems with the land and its shape are not conducive to a housing estate.
“Even though it’s in the [council’s] plan, I’m 100 per cent confident the golf club will still be here in 10 years’ time because there are so many legal things to go through to enforce termination of the lease.”
Mr Cookson says the club is “thriving”, with it being in the “best condition it’s ever been in”, and said memberships are increasing year on year.
The club currently boasts nearly 500 members, with around 50 joining in the last year. Non-member footfall also increased by around 20 per cent in 2025 compared with the previous year.
Mr Cookson continued: “To remove a well-used community resource like that – they’ve already done the same with the [Gedling Indoor] bowling club – they’re just removing all community-based activities.
“For 127 years, we’ve managed that land, gifted from different areas in Gedling for the purpose of recreation. They seem to think they have the god-given right to put 750 houses on it without a thought for the community.
“I intend to fight the good fight and not just roll over.”
Callum Fern, 32, has been the head professional at the club for around a year and a half. He said the potential plans for the land are “awful”.
He said: “When I came in, a couple of things they wanted from me were to try to increase female and junior participation. We’ve had loads of initiatives to help women and children get into golf.
“I think it’s awful, really. It already seems very overpopulated in this area. I talk to members who have lived here for a long time… I hear that it’s a struggle to get into schools and doctors’ surgeries.
“It’s not just golfers. We’re trying to be more of a community hub really, a place to come for breakfast, sit in the sun, or have a pint with a family member.
“It’s more than just golf for a lot of people; it supports their physical and mental health, acts as a friendship hub and a community hub. It might be the only time they see people all week.”
Mr Fern said staff feelings over the vulnerable future of the club have become “more positive” compared with a year ago, as they have been doing their own research into what is in place to protect the land.
Anton Robinson was first a member in 2014 for a few years, but rejoined in 2022. He called the club his “happy place”.
He said: “For a lot of members, it’s their life… there are a lot of retired members; it’s where they come to meet people and get their exercise. There are people in their 80s playing out there – if you take that away from them, where do they go?
“It’s my happy place. I come up here as much as I possibly can… I’ve made really good friends here, and I still have really good friends here who I play with every week. It’s where I go to feel good and forget about working life or what the council’s doing.
“It wouldn’t just be disappointment; there would be real anger that this place had been taken away from us.
“You can argue it’s a small number of people playing golf, but it’s about the wider community, the wildlife, and the green space. I think it would be an act of vandalism to take this away because it’s not something you can undo.”
The golf course was previously threatened by plans to build on it more than a decade ago, with the authority planning to allocate the area for up to 1,900 homes until 2011.
A 4,000-strong campaign opposing the development followed, and planning officials eventually decided it would be too expensive to build there.
A council spokesperson said: “The report in respect of the Consultation on the Publication Draft Gedling Local Development Plan will be considered by Cabinet on 21 May and, if approved by Cabinet and then council, will allow a period of public consultation in respect of all the policies and allocations proposed, including Mapperley Golf Course.
“The plan proposes a spatial strategy based on a settlement hierarchy, with the proposed site allocations being in accordance with this. As much housing as is feasible is proposed to be located within and adjoining the main built-up area of Nottingham.”
