With expansion work having been approved by Leeds City Council the airport will receive a three story extension to the current terminal alongside refurbishment inside too. The regeneration scheme was aborted in 2022 due to planning delays but with permission being granted this week, work is expected to be completed in 2026.
Over 600 current members call Horsforth their home club with both teams from Leeds Beckett also competing there.
But with the expansion of the airport, Horsforth has been left in the dark about how the work will affect them.
Running parallel to the runway, 6 holes around the course are on the perimeter of the airport. On a still day the gusts from the engines can be felt whilst teeing off and is an admired feature from visitors who are regularly in awe of the close proximity.
Speaking to club pro Dean Stokes on the unpredictability of the work he said: “We’ve known about the plans for a while but with getting no clarity from anybody we’ve contacted it’s becoming increasingly frustrating.”
Previous rumours suggested with lines and pipes running underneath the course, work would impact certain parts with the layout either having to change or holes temporarily closing.
“Being one of the busiest clubs in Leeds, it makes it near on impossible to plan for the future. It changes everything for us in terms of competitions. We need them to be understanding its not as easy as just digging up our course for their benefit.”
Cooperation is what’s needed and with the works deadline of 2026, several parties are under pressure. If the length and quality of the course is damaged, members will be asking for lower fees therefore the question lies will the club be able to cope with that financial burden for 3 years?
Stokes ended with: “The golf club is a big part of our community and as much as the expansion can be seen as positive we need to make sure we fight our corner.”
