When filial founders Graham and Robert Pain decided to enhance their 27-hole course with holiday and second homes, local planners expressed a preference for a timber-like appearance to the walls and dark grey slate roofing.
But the Pains wanted light, durable and low maintenance and that was not conducive to real timber. An Internet search revealed Marley Eternit’s fibre cement Weatherboard cladding and roof slates and samples convinced Bridgnorth District Council they would get the look they wanted while the Pains got the low-maintenance.
The first phase of the development, alongside the entrance of the club overlooking a lake and the ancient Wyre Forest, comprises four high-specification but minimalist 75m² cottages, each with two en-suite bedrooms, fully-fitted kitchens and decked balconies.
The Pain brothers, who founded the club in 200 acres of stunning Shropshire countryside, in 1993, have project managed the whole thing with main contractors Lloyd Timber Frames, from planning to final fit and decoration, including painting the fire-resistant Weatherboard a complementary shade of green.
“We were after a light, durable, low-maintenance product that would comply with the strict requirements of the local authority and give us an aesthetically pleasing look to blend into an attractive, tree-lined setting beside a golf course,” said Graham Pain.
“It was difficult at first to combine our commercial demands for a quick and cost effective build with low running costs and an attractive end result, with the demands of the planners but the end result has been a great success and looks really good.
“One slight regret I have is that we specified natural Weatherboard instead of coloured. Although natural is cheaper we had to stain it which was difficult in the weather conditions we experienced at the time. In future, we would specify coloured and agree a shade with the planners in advance.”