£500k plans for a 20-bedroom golf lodge welcomed by all

Welsh tourism chiefs, golfers and local businessmen are united in their support for a £500,000 development at Cardiff's Cottrell Park Golf Club. Cottrell Park Golf Club has worked closely with the Wales Tourist Board on its plans for a single story, twenty-bedroom golf lodge. Guests will enjoy the excellent views over the historic parkland as well as full access to all onsite facilities.

"The environmental impact of the lodges has been the over-riding factor in their design," said David Johns-Powell managing director of Cottrell Park. "The parkland has taken over 200 years to landscape and we will make sure it remains our single greatest asset."

Wales Tourist Board research shows that although Wales has some fabulous golf courses, if the country is to fulfil its potential as a golfing destination, it needs to develop and invest in high quality accommodation, linked to courses. Welcoming Cottrell Park's plans, Roger Pride, director of marketing for the WTB, says:

"The Wales Tourist Board, through its golf tourism strategy, is aiming to use Wales' hosting of the Ryder Cup in 2010 as a catalyst for growing golf tourism over the next ten years, by developing high quality product and marketing golf throughout Wales on the back of this high-profile event. This project is a great example of this strategy in action - we wish it all success." Cardiff University lecturer, Dr James Birchall, organises golfing trips to courses across Wales. He says that the new golf lodges will fill a huge gap in the market.

"I am always on the look-out for new places to stay, but reasonably priced onsite accommodation is extremely difficult to find," he says. "The idea of golf lodges is fantastic and the designers have obviously made a huge effort to make the development blend into the rural setting."

Wayne Evans, Cottrell Park member and taxi driver, can also foresee a huge demand. Passengers arriving at the airport or Cardiff Central regularly query him about a good local golf course and a place to stay.

"You be surprised at the numbers of enquiries I get every week," he says. "Cottrell Park is a lovely location, but accommodation was always a stumbling block."

The plans are currently with the Vale of Glamorgan Council and David Johns-Powell is looking forward to their feedback. He says that the council understands the need for extra accommodation and facilities to improve tourism.

"The Vale has a very forward thinking council and we are delighted to be working with them.

"They have already spent a of time and effort developing golf tourism and I am sure they will see that this is a very exciting development; an excellent opportunity for the entire Vale of Glamorgan and everyone involved in Golf Tourism in Wales."