In May, I shared the inspiring news of Golf & Leisure Group’s acquisition of 3 Hammers Golf Complex. I was truly impressed with the complex’s remarkable performance thus far.
Consequently, I reached out to the new owners, James Rogers (co-owner of Golf & Leisure Group) and Carl Tomlin (MD, Golf & Leisure Group), to discover the motivation behind their bold decision to acquire it.
What led you to start investing in the acquisition of golf leisure venues?
James Rogers: We’d had success with a leasehold Adventure Golf site we’d developed in South Bristol and were keen to acquire a freehold site.
Bristol Golf Centre is very local to where James was born and raised, so when it became available, it was the perfect opportunity. The timing wasn’t.
We went into lockdown shortly after the acquisition.
We took that opportunity to invest in a refurbishment of the range and add ball tracking technology, which was a great success, allowing us to invest further in the adventure golf onsite.
We replaced one 18-hole course and added another 18-hole course shortly after.
What made 3 Hammers Golf Complex attractive for acquisition?
Carl Tomlin: Anyone who’s visited The 3 Hammers Golf Complex will know exactly why we were so keen to buy it.
It was England Golf’s 2025 Facility of the Year for a reason – it looks fantastic, and a long-serving team runs it well.
Ian Bonser built something really special over four decades, and we’re delighted to carry on his good work.
The core parts of the business – Driving Range, Adventure Golf, Golf Retail, and Food & Beverage – are well-established and align with our business model.
The Par 3 course is new to us, but it is hugely complementary to our core business.
Wolverhampton is easily commutable from Bristol (when the M5/M6 interchange is functioning properly), making it a logical first step towards becoming a multi-site operator.
We’re already seeing the benefits of sharing the management team’s knowledge across both sites.
Which of your innovations across both sites are you most proud of?
Carl Tomlin: Rather than one, we think it’s more our ability and willingness to adopt technology and keep
ahead of changes in the market.
Bristol Golf Centre is one of the only ranges in the UK with automated ball delivery technology that’s integrated into the booking and ball tracking systems.
Baskets of balls or manually refilling ball hoppers are a thing of the past, allowing our customers to hit more balls in the same time slot so that we can deliver outstanding quality and value for money.
How have you found the day-to-day at the 3 Hammers Golf Complex?
Carl Tomlin: We’ve been so impressed with the team, and the handover from Ian was seamless because of how well it is run.
The Complex is going from strength to strength, and we’re delighted to have such a great team as part of a growing group.
We’re looking forward to investing further in The 3 Hammers Golf Complex to add to what is already an exceptional business.
How effectively can you guarantee a consistent customer experience across both venues?
James Rogers: It’s difficult in any industry to guarantee a consistent customer experience for every customer that walks through the door, particularly when the weather plays a massive factor in golf.
But what we can influence is the technology, systems, processes, and customer service for which we provide training.
We work hard to make sure that it’s high quality and consistently delivered.
How can a golf complex like 3 Hammers Golf Complex cultivate an appealing corporate culture?
Carl Tomlin: Creating a corporate culture that attracts and retains great staff is all about having the right management team in place; we want them to care about our customers, sites, and business as much as we do.
We’re delighted to have Nick Forbes & Sam Hill leading the charge at 3 Hammers; they’re part of the fabric of that site, and they’ll be a massive asset to the group as we position for further growth.
With Ben Mills also recently joining us as Brand, Marketing, and Partnerships Director, we feel that we’re in a great position to move forward with our plans for both BristolGolf Centre and 3 Hammers Golf Complex, as well as future acquisitions.
Are there any plans to expand the group further?
James Rogers: Absolutely, we’re keen to add another site to the group this year!
We’ve got the right team in place to make it a success, and also build on what we’re doing at Bristol Golf Centre & 3 Hammers Golf Complex.