Silsden Golf Club members were celebrating this week after moving into their luxury new clubhouse.

They have left wooden pre-fab building for a state-of-the-art clubhouse which is part of a £1 million development of the club with the bulk of the money coming from a bumper £650,000 Lottery sports grant.

The new clubhouse includes a huge lounge which in which the club can cater for over 120 people. There is also a bar area, new locker rooms complete with showers for both men and women golfers.

There is a large catering-standard kitchen and food is being provided most days of the week.

"We are just feeling our way around the new building at the moment," said former police sergeant John Chambers, who took on the role of club manager after retiring from the Keighley Division at the end of August.

He has been a member of Bingley St Ives Golf Club for many years where he is a former captain and President. He has served in the Keighley Police Division since 1973.

The first major event to be held using the new facility was the Bradford Winter Alliance event with Silsden member Malcolm Mawson the current President of the Bradford Golf Union.

Development of the course is also going ahead. At present the course has 11 holes, but it is being developed into a full 18-hole course with the new holes expected to open next summer.

"The new greens have been built and seeded and now we are at the mercy of the weather. If we have a good winter and suitable growing conditions next spring then we hope to have the full course open by July next year.

"However our main aim is to make sure the new holes are in top condition before members play on them, so we will not be rushing things," Mr Chambers said.

n Celebrating the opening of Silsden Golf Club's new clubhouse are, from left: John Ranton, steward; John Chambers, manager and Tom Lawrie, vice-captain-elect.