A 94-year-old golf club in Salford with 290 members closed on September 30, citing the financial situation brought about by lockdown restrictions.
Swinton Park Golf and Country Club, located off the A580, was subject to a £10m bid from a housing company.
Your Housing Group dropped the bid after a report commissioned by Salford City Council said that golf at the site was viable.
A statement on the club’s website said: “Swinton Park Golf Club has not been sold and the decision to close the club and course has not been taken lightly.
“We know closure will come as a blow to many people, the staff and board included – it is a step not taken lightly and not without regret.”
Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, had given his backing to protect the historic site.
He said: “I would again now urge the owners of the golf course to look at the opportunity for the sale of the course to allow its continued operation as a golf course.”
Swinton Park almost folded in 2017 before a group of members, led by Alan Nuttall, invested £1.235m into the club, acquiring shares to take it over.
Alan Nuttall, speaking with the Manchester Evening News, said that the club was now losing £10,000 a month, disputing the conclusions of the council-commissioned golf viability survey.
He stressed the significant effect that a ban on social gatherings and functions has had on the club’s income.
