Trevor Brooking, CBE, officially opened the golf course and the first building to be completed at Hampshire County Cricket Club's (HCCC) new ground in West End, Southampton.

Trevor Brooking, the former West Ham United and England footballer, is currently chairman of Sport England who, through the National Lottery Sports Fund, have supported Hampshire's ambitious plans with their grant in excess of seven million pounds.

Having opened the courtyard-linked Nursery Pavilion and Golf Club House, which are to become 'home' to the Club's 2nd XI and the County Golf Club respectively, Trevor Brooking watched as Barry Richards the former Hampshire and South African cricketer, with golf club professional, Ian Warwick and Tim Tremlett, director of Cricket play a three hole 'Drive In'.

The nine hole, English Golf Union affiliated golf course opened for business last year and has already acquired a reputation for the high standard of the course. The United States Golf Association greens are now considered some of the best in the county and are complimented by a compuerised irrigation system.

HCCC chairman Brian Ford said "Everyone can see from the buildings being opened today (Friday), the quality that is being achieved. The immediate success and popularity of the County Golf Club has been highly encouraging and we are confident and very exited about the future."

Additional Background Information

The two new buildings, designed by award-winning architects Michael Hopkins & Partners, have been planned and constructed sympathetically with their environment. As well as having 'grass' roofs (created from Sedum, a totally natural product similar to moss) Western Red Cedar, a sustainable and durable soft wood, has been used for the exterior timber cladding, blening the buildings into the overall natural landscape.

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