Stonebridge Golf Club near Meriden celebrates 30 years in existence in 2026. Local copywriter Karl Quinney went along to chat to Stonebridge GM Kelvin Pugh on our behalf for this special feature on their progress from the 1990s up to the present day.
How did Stonebridge Golf first come into being and how long did it take to build?
“The idea of pay and play golf course originated from a report by the R and A showing there was unmet demand for golf generally and pay and play in particular. This prompted us to look at the options for the creation of the golf course which ultimately led to Stonebridge. The original idea started in about 1991 with the total process taking about four years.”
You had a quite a high-profile personality from the sporting world cut the ribbon to officially open Stonebridge for you?
“Dermot Reeve, captain of Warwickshire County Cricket Club, and indeed other WCCC cricketers. Lord Aylesford was President of WCCC at the time and asked them!”
The course and venue has seen many changes over the last three decades. Can you point to any of the major turning points in that time?
“Opening an additional 9 holes in 2006 moving us from an 18 hole venue enabled us to have more variety but also increased capacity and gives us the ability to have specific member times weekend mornings. The bar renovation also meant a bigger capacity and a more modern bar which has led to more people enjoying food and drink with us.
The decision to move away from hosting weddings and conferences in the large function rooms. Instead of competing with hotel chains and conference specialists we now lease out our space to three companies which gives us regular income and means we can focus on the golf course and member experience more.
Creating a new welfare facility for greens staff and improved machinery store and greens compound. It has meant more equipment could be purchased and stored inside and safely, and improved staff retention too.”
You also had the distinction of being the 300th club in England to receive the GolfMark accreditation. That must have been a great honour?
“This was a very proud achievement, one of many so far in our relatively short life, and one which is testament to our hard work and commitment to good golf and governance.”
If you could pin-point three key aspects which have been behind the continued success of Stonebridge as a course and venue over the last 30 years, what would they be?
“Being a course and venue that is open to all; having a relaxed, modern and welcoming clubhouse, and having a modern approach to marketing and running a golf club.”
Running a golf club and venue and particularly on the size and stature of Stonebridge inevitably always brings its challenges from time-to-time. What has been the biggest challenge the club and you have faced?
“Covid has easily been the biggest challenge. Closing the club following the first lockdown announcement was a lonely and worrying time. There were the obvious concerns of being worried about losing members, how our funds would hold up, staff leaving as they didn’t think hospitality would survive. It was then 12 months of jumping through various hoops trying to open and operate within restrictions! Strangely our biggest challenge became our chance to reset and refresh as it provided the opportunity to assess the business and enabled to move forward and come out stronger. From that we increased Member numbers from 800 to 1200, leased out office space rather than doing weddings and conferences and could focus on being a golf club.”
As we have seen in Midlands Golfer in the last year, Stonebridge is very focussed on sustainability for the future benefit of the course and the beautiful surrounds of the Packington Estate it is set in. Can you tell us more on what you are doing?
“One of the main things we have been doing is creating set aside areas, these are areas we don’t mow and well offline when playing the hole. These areas have encouraged various plants and tree saplings to grow with the plan to encourage tree growth in what was traditionally the heart of the Forest of Arden. The wildlife enjoys these areas too and it saves on diesel when these areas were usually mowed!
We have also moved off from mains water for our irrigation via creating ponds and investing in pumps to enable that water to be used rather than mains water. We have also two solar arrays on the clubhouse which saves the club money on electricity as well as becoming more sustainable. We have also recently invested in three robot mowers which can be charged with the solar power further reducing our reliance on diesel.”
You have a number of working partners which also contribute to the success of Stonebridge.
“Midlands Golf who manage the Pro Shop and Driving Range here at Stonebridge, and Ignite Golf who run the golf lessons and Academy; Hannah Crump at Ignite is very key and instrumental in girls and women’s golf and introducing new players to the game.
Midlands Golf have invested heavily in the driving range to make it into the premium facility we have now with power tees and Trackman, and also extending it by a further three bays.
They also look after our Pro Shop and their greater buying power and other shops gives our members and visitors a better selection and offering of golf clothing and equipment.”
And the building and opening of an adventure golf alongside the driving range has added a new dimension to your offering. How has that come about and been received?
“The adventure golf was a joint idea between myself and Midlands Golf’s Managing Director, Ian Nicholson. We felt it would be a natural progression from the driving range modernisation and help reach a new audience and bring more people to the club. Our first full year of trading has hugely successful and seen over 20000 rounds played. It has introduced families and children to golf and the club with one of the upshots being that with the clubhouse literally a long putt across the path from the course we have seen a growth of over 15% in food and beverage revenue this year in our Spike Bar.”
Turning to this year, what does Stonebridge have planned to celebrate their 30th anniversary?
“As well as inviting members old and new to share their memories of Stonebridge over the last 30 years, we will be having a formal event in April to coincide with our Anniversary Cup.”
As you head into a fourth decade, what plans do you have for the future (that is if you are able to tell us about them!)?
“Stonebridge is continuing to invest in the golf course with new tees planned on our 3rd Blythe. We are also looking to add three more robotic mowers so that all 27 holes are covered which will improve the presentation of the course and help with maintaining rough length.
We will continue to look to strengthen the offering on site by adding four padel courts which we have sort planning permission for. The investment will be from outside companies but it will bring new audience to the site and increase business in the spike bar.”
