A POPULAR golf course in Ellesmere Port is set to reopen next month after its previous operator went into liquidation.

Hooton Golf Club suddenly shut up shop in October last year when Mack Golf ceased trading.

Since that time Cheshire West and Chester Council has been carrying out a regular maintenance programme on the course to ensure the fairways, tees, semi rough and greens are kept to a high standard.

And it has now announced that it has found a ‘preferred operator’ to run the club.

Cllr Louise Gittins, Cabinet Member for Communities and Wellbeing, said: “We have been working to find a solution to the problem in order to have the golf club reopened in time for the spring and summer so that golfers in Ellesmere Port will be able to return to the course.

“We have assessed the available options and are now pleased to say that a preferred operator has been found for the club.

“We are now putting arrangements in place with the operator and we will be able to announce more details as we get nearer to our anticipated late March opening. We appreciate the patience of the community who have been without a golf course during the time it has taken to find a solution.

“We intend to contact all former golf club customers who have contacted us to give them more details in the coming weeks.”

When Mack Trading ceased trading on October 3, the council terminated the lease and other agreements in order to take back control of the site and secure its future.