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Title: European Golf Tour Could Tee Up In Doncaster Author: DMBC  ID & Publication: 20120511024 ~ The-Villager.co.uk  Area: Doncaster  Subject: Sport (Local)

The European Golf Tour is considering a site at Rossington Hall in Doncaster as a potential location for a new tournament golf destination.

The council backed scheme which is being pulled together by a consortium of local land owners could see the site transformed into a world class golf complex and resort under the PGA European Tour banner.

The exciting project would include an international tournament quality 18 hole golf course designed and built on the picturesque site, a top class 18 hole club course, a club house, leisure facilities, luxury homes set alongside the course, road infrastructure improvements to support the plans and public footpaths, cycle routes and bridleways so existing and new residents living close by can enjoy the wide variety of green space, parkland and lakes.

Mayor of Doncaster, Peter Davies, said: ‘It is a great honour that the European Tour is considering Doncaster for the expansion of their network of carefully selected golf destinations.

‘The attractive site at Rossington Hall is a perfect location for tournament golf, being minutes from Doncaster’s international airport and close to the planned link road leading to the national motorway network.

‘Doncaster is already home to a world class horse racing venue and international golf would further enhance our reputation for quality sport.

‘Only two European Tour tournaments are taking place in England this year and one of those is The Open which rotates around British golf courses. Given the English golfing talent at the top of the sport, this is a travesty. It would be fantastic news if Doncaster was to host another in the future.

‘The plans have my full support and it really is exciting times for Doncaster and the Rossington area as we continue to be one the best places in the country to live, work, visit, invest in and do business from.’

David MacLaren, the European Tour’s Director of Property and Venue Development, said: ‘The European Tour has a proud history of hosting tournaments in the North of England and we are also keen to continue the expansion of our network of world-class venues. I have been impressed with the determination, vision and strategy of all concerned with the Rossington Hall project, including Doncaster Council and the project Developers. The European Tour looks forward to its next involvement in this part of the world and will assess opportunities for an involvement at Rossington with keen interest.’

Richard McIlroy of Mount Pleasant Hotel and Gary Gee of Rossington Hall Hotel, said: ‘We are pleased to confirm our involvement in discussions with The PGA European Tour regarding the exciting possibility of developing a European Tour Golf Destination on land surrounding our respective hotels. This is a unique development that would create a high profile tournament golf complex of national repute and new residential development of a quality not previously seen in Doncaster which together will offer an unrivalled opportunity to attract new investment and establish the area as a major growth point in the Sheffield City Region.’

An outline planning application for the project should be submitted later this year and, subject to appropriate approvals, work could start within two years.

The approximate 500 acre site is bounded to the west by the East Coast Mainline and to the east by the Great North Road.

The Finningley and Rossington Regeneration Route Scheme (FARRRS) will see a new road from Junction 3 of the M18 serve the south of Doncaster. Subject to planning approval, work on the new route will start in the summer and be complete in 2014.

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