Teeing up a tender opportunity

Stony Holme Golf Course

Cumberland Council is providing the opportunity for golf operators to take on the management of Carlisle golf course.

The 18-hole golf offer at Stony Holme Golf Course in Carlisle is out for tender and includes the provision of a catering offer for service users and other members of the public.

The course is located within the city limits within good transport links. The site has a Club House with a bar and restaurant with views over the course.

Stony Holme is a parkland course par 69, surrounded by three rivers. Tight tree lined fairways and water in play on 10 of the 18 holes.

In 2023 Stony Holme Golf Course received the award for the “Best Municipal Golf Course 2023”.  The golf course supports the wider health and wellbeing agenda of the council through the provision of an inclusive facility.   

There are no other municipal golf facilities in the Cumberland Council area although there are many privately operated sites.

There is a club attached to the course to enable players to obtain a handicap and play recognised competitions. The club is affiliated to the Cumbria County Club Union.

Cumberland Council requires the following to be delivered by the supplier:

  • Provide an inclusive municipal golf course service.
  • Increase the number of users of the service, including older people.  
  • Deliver improvements in the services offered.   
  • Achieve consistently high levels of customer standards for the service.  
  • Provide a catering facility that includes healthy and locally sourced options and that is in line with Cumberland Councils Strategic Food Framework.  
  • Work with other agencies to promote golfs active wellbeing benefit.  
  • Report on the social value/health and wellbeing benefits of the service.  
  • Reduce the subsidy to zero within the first five years of operation.
  • The supplier will work with one third sector organisation every financial year to increase participation of underrepresented demographics.
  • The Tender is for ten years with a possible five-year extension. 

Anyone interested in taking up the management of the golf course can apply at Operator of Stony Holme Golf Course, Carlisle (due-north.com).

The deadline for submissions is Friday 2 February 2024.