These are exciting times for Lilley Brook Golf Club.

In five years’ time they will celebrate their centenary and the countdown to 2022 is already starting.

Yesterday’s open day at the club in Charlton Kings was a big success as they look to drive membership figures upwards and get more people playing golf.

The club currently have around 600 members, including juniors, and it is hoped more people will take advantage of the various membership offers that the club have available.

Rob East, Lilley Brook manager, said: “We want to de-mystify what a golf club is all about. When people drive past Lilley Brook all they see is a clubhouse.

“But what is behind it? For all they know it could be a quarry! In fact, it’s a beautiful course and the clubhouse itself is friendly and inviting.

“The idea of the open day was for people to come and see the club for themselves and play a bit golf.”

East said they were targeting people of all ages and abilities but particularly wanted to increase the junior membership.

“That’s the future of golf and the golf club,” he said. “Golf offers everything. It offers fabulous exercise and is a sport that can be played from the cradle to the grave.

“The moderate physical activity that golf provides has been shown to increase life expectancy, has mental health benefits and can help prevent and treat more than 40 major chronic diseases such as heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, breast and colon cancer. Plus it’s fun.”

“Lilley Brook itself offers wonderful surroundings and is the only golf club within Cheltenham Borough Council.

“We have a proud heritage. Our course was originally laid out by Dr Alister MacKenzie and he went on to design the Masters course at Augusta.”