Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2009 | Page 32

life

INTERVIEW

Photo: Mark Wright

Golf for all at Westridge
It was a “golf for all” attitude with which,
17 years ago, golf Pro Mark Wright
started Westridge Golf Centre. Not that
he could have demanded the sort of
exclusivity commonly associated with
the sport, given that it all started in a
Portacabin. “Looking back I can’t help
but be grateful to those who were there
at the beginning. We didn’t have a lot
to offer. There were not even any toilet
facilities or hot water.”
However, today, with gleaming club
house, well-equipped shop and permission
to expand to 18 holes, that egalitarian
approach still holds. You can be a member
– or you can pay as you play.
Mark, a PGA professional, had seen
an opportunity when the land became
available back in 1992 to develop a golf
facility – but the timing was hardly

32

perfect for starting a new business. “It
was in a similar recession to where we
are now,” he smiles ruefully. Nonetheless,
thanks to the assistance of family and
friends he managed to build up a loyal
clientele until, in 1995, he was able to
construct the clubhouse.
The range has come a long way since
then. The Golf Centre, which is near
Ryde, has just received planning consent
to expand to an 18-hole course, expanding
from 50 to around 90 acres. The extra
acreage will transform the course to a par
65, stretching over 5,000 yards. This is
likely to attract golfers who enjoy more of
a challenge.
The Portacabin is now, of course,
a distant memory. The facilities at
Westridge today are state-of-the-art.
The driving range was completely rebuilt

four years ago, offering 16 floodlit bays
to allow wintertime practice. However,
the development has not been without
hiccoughs on the way. When he came to
renew the licence for floodlights, which
had been used for 15 years, Mark came
across objections at the planning level.
“That’s all been ironed out now,” he says.
As well as its well appointed clubhouse
and a shop which is golfer’s heaven,
golfers on the range will find nice little
touches like the Powertees gadget, which
saves you the tedious task of placing the
ball in front of you. Or you can try the
Explanar system, which forces you to
make your swing correctly. The system
relies on the concept of muscle memory:
by repeating the action over and over
again your swing action will approximate
something far more professional.

The Island's new funky radio station www.wightFM.com