IT will have been seven years in the making, cost £9million and the work so far has involved shifting 1.5 million cubic tons of earth to shape the land. But even before the grand creation is finished the new golf complex in the north east in attracting hundreds of fans every day from around the country and overseas. And this is even before the centrepiece, the 7,000-plus yard championship course – one of the longest in the region – opens at St Helens, together with the clubhouse, a 19th century barn now being restored, The opening isn’t until next May but already every day hundreds of golf fans from Merseyside, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and far beyond head for the golf centre with its big retail outlet and the extensive practice facilities. “This is unique,” says Glenn Turner, director of golf at the North West National Golf and Country Club, as the complex will be known when the total project including golf course and clubhouse is finished. “This is a one-off. We now have the biggest coaching academy in the north of England. If you have a retail outlet like there is here, driving range and practice range and other facilities which are second to none, then people will indeed travel for miles to get here. We have better facilities than the Belfry.” Turner is from New Zealand, a qualified golf professional who has coached in America and across Europe and commentates on golf on television and radio. Six years ago two businessmen wanting to design the new championship course approached him. He says they are local men but at this stage their identities are not being disclosed. In 2006-7 Turner played in every county in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales – probably, he suggests, setting a record and also raising more than £1 million for children’s’ charities. So he is well qualified to declare the coast of the north west is the best in the country for golf, with the three Royals – Liverpool, Birkdale and Lytham – plus the fine inland parkland courses. Like the famous courses of the coastline, the course he has been busy designing and making at St Helens is based on fast-drying sand. But while the area has coastal links courses and parkland courses to the east it does not have a heathland course. Turner has made what he describes as the first heathland course in the north west, built on land which includes in part the old Pilkington glass works and former agricultural land. | 
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