Co-op investment drives golf start-up
A golf driving range has launched in Stone, Staffordshire, after two entrepreneurs secured funding from The Co-operative Bank. Stone Driving Range was financed by a £340,000 loan from the bank.
The 28-bay, floodlit driving range has now opened after 18 months of construction work.
It has been designed to replicate a golf course with holes, contours, fairways, bunkers and target greens.
Stone Driving Range was set up by Jim Ball, the former director of Hanley Glass and China, and Rob Grier, who has been a PGA professional for the last 18 years.
Grier also coaches players in the men's and women's European tours.
Paul Gutberlet, corporate manager at The Co-operative Bank’s North Midlands corporate banking centre in Stafford, said: "This is a young and growing business and the bank’s strategy is to develop long-term relationships with our customers.
"The funding arrangement shows that even in today’s uncertain economic climate, we’re still lending to businesses with impressive business strategies, such as Stone Driving Range, who we very much look forward to supporting in the future."
