Kirkby Lonsdale Golf Club prepares for winter season

Kirkby Lonsdale Golf Club is described by visitors as a 'hidden gem'.

Tom Benn, administration and marketing assistant at the club, said: "They tell us they have heard great things about the course and want to come to see it - and when they do, they are not disappointed.

"They especially like the condition of the course and the stunning views from it."

This summer, the club was visited by Yorkshire and England cricketer Johnny Bairstow, who played a round while in the area.

The club also hosted several events, including the Senior Masters Pro Tour and the Cumbria County 4s competition.

It also hosted a charity event last week, which is expected to raise about £3,000 for disadvantaged young people.

The event was organised by the Cumbria region of Wooden Spoon, rugby’s children’s charity.

The winning team was made up of Mark Butterworth, vice-captain of Kirkby Lonsdale Golf Club; John Cunningham, organiser of the event and chair of Wooden Spoon Cumbria; Nick Meadows and Tom Duke.

They achieved a gross 12 under par score.

Looking ahead, the club’s Winter League begins on October 6.

The pairs competition consists of 12 events, with league positions decided on points gained every week.

Looking back down the course from the 16th Green at Kirkby Lonsdale Golf Club in autumn 2023 (Image: Robin Ree)

Mr Benn said: "The competition is very popular, with upwards of 40 pairs taking part in a day, even in the heart of winter."

The club will also host winter opens once a month, which attract golfers from across the North and North West.

Mr Benn paid tribute to head greenkeeper Graham Kellett, who has taken over from his brother Alan, who is still part of the greenkeeping team.

He said: "The course is in an incredible condition.

"It is a very resilient course and has stood up to the poor weather of the summer months.

“The greens staff do a wonderful job.

"We play from the grass all year round and visiting players like it that they don’t have to carry a fairway mat when they play here in winter.”

The club has a new catering manager, Steve Turner, from Kirkby Lonsdale, who previously worked at The Lunesdale Arms.

A robot mower has also been introduced, which is programmed to cut the grass on the driving range and then return to dock itself into a charger.

"It can operate at any time of the day and night and it means we don’t have to close the driving range to cut the grass," said Mr Benn.

Winter membership deals are available at the club, which was established in 1906 and has been at its present site since 1991.

The 18-hole course measures 6,594 yards and is laid out in more than 160 acres of countryside.

It offers 'amazing' views of Barbon Fell and the Howgills.

The course is a haven for wildlife, including roe deer, rabbits, hares, stoats and weasels.

There is a heronry and nesting swans and ducks on the lake.

Several nesting boxes have been put up, which have attracted a wide variety of birdlife to the course.

The clubhouse catering facilities and driving range are open to members of the public and people are welcome to use the club’s car park as a base for walks over the Barbon fells.

Anyone wanting to register their interest in becoming a member should email info@kirkbylonsdalegolfclub.com.