Five former members of Farrington Park Golf Club have been successful in claiming financial compensation after significant changes were made to the course.

The members went through the small claims court seeking compensation for membership payments that were made in advance of the championship course reducing holes from 18 to 12.

The owner of Farrington Park Golf Club, 360 Maple, informed members in January the club would be adopting a 12-hole golf course and would be closing nine holes on the championship course by April - three months before the end of the membership year.

This prompted members to consider their future at the club with the Farrington Park Seniors Section disbanding due to the reduction in the size of the golf course.

Maple 360 made the announcement to its more than 700 members on January 17 last year. The firm is also understood to have outlined initial compensation proposals as; use of a composite 18-hole course and then a composite 14 hole course until the end of September, or pro-shop vouchers fixed at the equivalent value of a full three-months membership.

With the desire to continue playing on a full size 18-hole golf course and no need for any further golf equipment, five members requested that 360 Maple reimburse them with a three month pro-rata proportion of their membership they had paid in advance.

After a protracted period of communications, the five members exercised their final option and proceeded through the small claims court to secure their monetary compensation.

The small claims court would rule against 360 Maple in November 2024, stating that it had breached the contract with those five members.

Robert Clive, of 360 Maple, said: “When we acquired Farrington Park the existing 18-hole golf course was in need of major upgrades and modernisation.

“The irrigation system was redundant and the drainage system was deteriorating which meant that we had to urgently consider the most sustainable long-term model for the future of the venue.

“Against the backdrop of golf courses in England closing at the rate of one every six weeks, we identified an opportunity to broaden the appeal of golf by designing a 12-hole course and introducing the sort of facilities that young families – and the wider local community - would expect.

“At the time, many golf club members were understandably disappointed to lose their 18-hole golf course but we were able to compensate them for the remaining months of their membership in the form of vouchers for the pro-shop and extended playing rights before the course was closed.

“Several former members chose to pursue a pro-rata refund through the small claims court and their claims were settled in accordance with the court’s decision.

“We are now looking forward to the course reopening this spring and will be inviting former members to be the first to try it out by playing a round free of charge.”