Members of Bury Golf Club in Greater Manchester have voted to hand day-to-day operations to Link Golf UK. A report published on 30 October 2026 says 97% of those voting supported the agreement. Bury is the first private members' golf club to join the operator's Link Club division. This is neither a sale of the course nor the completion of a renovation: it is a change in management backed by a proposed investment programme.
What the members retain
Bury Golf Club keeps its name, badge, land freehold and elected board. The board remains responsible for competitions, handicaps, team matches and the club calendar. Membership fees will be determined with the board's involvement.
Link Golf UK assumes daily operations and the financial risk of running the facility. Existing staff will transfer under the UK's TUPE arrangements, which protect employment terms when a business changes hands. Tee times reserved for members' competitions are ring-fenced; other available slots may be offered to visitors. That does not mean every tee time has become open for unrestricted public booking.
What the first £500,000 is intended to fund
The operator has committed £500,000 of phase-one investment. The announced plans include a refreshed members' bar, an outdoor terrace overlooking the 18th green, and upgraded changing rooms, showers and toilets. Further expenditure is envisaged for course maintenance and equipment, including robotic mowers and machinery for green surfaces.
These are announced plans, not completed works. The report provides no verified completion date. The club's greenkeeping team is expected to carry out course work with support from group course manager Jared Ellison.
Why the arrangement matters
Founded in 1890, Bury has an 18-hole semi-moorland course. Its official website credits Alister MacKenzie with the course design in 1920. The noteworthy aspect of the agreement is not merely its investment figure: members retain ownership and sporting governance while a specialist operator takes responsibility for commercial operations. The practical success of the model will depend on the facilities actually delivered and on continued access, rather than on the vote alone.
Sources: The Golf Business, 30 October 2026; Link Golf UK co-founder Andrew Terry's public statement; Bury Golf Club's official website.
