SOUTHEND could soon be getting a new 18-hole adventure golf course in a bid to encourage more young people to take up the sport.

A planning application has been submitted to Southend Council for an 18-hole course at Garon Park, in Eastern Avenue.

If approved, it is hoped construction will begin this winter and the course will be ready for family fun by Easter 2017.

Alan Walker, owner of Garon Park Golf Course, describes adventure golf as an up and coming trend that is a world apart from crazy golf and aims to get more young people interested in taking the sport further.

The course is bigger than traditional crazy course and there will be themed holes, where they also hope to host children’s parties and fun days.

He said: “Adventure golf has really taken off in the last few years. It’s a fun packed introduction to golf with lots of activities so the kids and families can come and play.

“It’s just an extension of our offering of golf. There’s lots of talk about golf not growing as a participation sport and that’s not necessarily true. This is an extension of the growth of the game in different areas.”

The course will span two acres and be located at the entrance of the golf complex- which has now been in Southend for 22 years, with nearby parking and will take about an hour and a half to play.

Mr Walker continued: “It’s a game of golf with some education for the family and children. They have been very successful.

“We have a good location. The course is right next to our par three course and we hope for natural progression to the par three. It’s to introduce golf to young children and bring everyone in.

“Crazy golf was a Sixties thing and this is much more interactive and visual, there is much more participation.”

Ann Holland, Tory councillor responsible for culture, tourism and the economy, is delighted at the plans and thinks the course would be a great addition to the town.

She said: “It sounds really good. Anything that will get the whole family in and bring a new range of golf players can only be good. It’s very positive that they are expanding to do more things, it’s really good for the borough and good to engage people in golf even younger.

“It’s another activity and it’s different. It gives something for everybody and more variety. It starts people off young and will perhaps get them into golf.”