Lexden Wood Golf Club, in Bakers Lane, has been acquired by a subsidiary of the Lanswood Group, and the club’s new director is Colchester resident Jonathan Greaves, 31.

Earlier this month it was revealed that major investment is being injected into the club for the future.

A new greenkeeper has also been appointed to oversee the club’s 18-hole course, a revamp is planned for its crazy golf course Fossil Falls, and a gym facility should be created and opened later this year.

The team has also already had 25,000 new Srixon golf balls delivered, a new ball picker added, enhanced their outside lighting for extended hours of golfing, and carried out exterior landscape and road repairs on its site.

Course – Lexden Wood Golf Club (Image: Lexden Wood Golf Club) But a club member, speaking anonymously to the Gazette, has criticised the club for increasing its seven-day membership from £950 to £1,450.

They also claim there are similar increases across the board for five-day, youth, and junior memberships.

They said: “For years, we have seen the course and facilities deteriorate.

“Things had got so bad members were embarrassed to take guests there and members have left in droves.

“Now Mr Greaves has taken the club on, we finally have some real hope and the money he is pumping in is incredible.

New director – Jonathan Greaves (Image: Lexden Wood Golf Course) “He is investing massively in the course, driving range and facilities.

“However, the long-term improvements will take some time to happen but from August a seven-day membership has gone up more than 50 per cent.”

The member is also very concerned about the cost in comparison to some of the far “superior golf courses and clubs” in the area.

They say Stoke By Nayland golf course has a “pro shop, spa and swimming pool”, but members of Lexden Wood Golf Club are “just delighted the toilets and taps are now working”.

The golfer also said membership will cost roughly the same as Colchester, Colne Valley and Braintree Golf Clubs, adding: “Which even the most loyal Lexden members would admit have better course conditions, structure and history.”

They said: “Lexden has always been proud to be a working man’s club with more plumbers’ vans in the car park than Porsches.

“There is a big market for affordable golf which has always been seen as a rich man’s sport, sadly Lexden Wood Golf Club will no longer buck that trend.”

In response Mr Greaves said: “Lexden Wood Golf Club will benefit from significant investment, which includes a new fitness centre, padel and of course enhanced golf facilities.

“We are restructuring the membership offer to include a range of options that reflect how people use the club.

“Joining fees, irrigation levies and restricted play times should all be taken into consideration when comparing Lexden Wood to other local clubs.

“The feedback from the majority of our members has been excellent so far with many feeling confident about the club’s future after seeing the initial improvements and investment.”