The operators of Routenburn golf course are confident the number of people playing the course will increased for the first time in five years.

Although there are still three months of the financial year left, KA Leisure have stated that the number of players on Routenburn, and its other two public course at Irvine Ravenspark and Auchenharvie, is on the up.

The figures were revealed in a progress report to North Ayrshire Council - which provides the majority of funding for the leisure trust.

The report shows a projected total of 57,474 rounds for 2014/15, up more than 700 on the 56,735 total achieved in 2013/14, and the first increase for five years.

A spokesperson for KA Leisure said: “The total number of golfers using the courses has dropped annually since 2009 but these latest statistics are a welcome reversal of fortune for these facilities.

“Over the past 12 months, we introduced a number of initiatives to encourage both adults and youngsters back to the fairways. These included special membership offers and adult and youth coaching and events. Development centres were introduced within a number of campuses. A pilot scheme was also launched in conjunction with Active Schools which gave youngsters their first taste at the sport at their local schools before moving on to Auchenharvie and Ravenspark.” The spokesperson added: “We are particularly keen to attract young teenagers to our golfing facilities as these youth members will help guarantee the future stability of the courses. As part of our continued campaign to attract more players, we are now offering free golf at all three courses to any 14 or 15-year-old who takes out a KA Leisure multi-use membership.

“Adult members can also add a golf season ticket for just £10 per month and all fitness subscribers can also add a child aged up to 13 for £5 per month, and this includes unlimited access to public swim sessions, kid’s gym, public skating, athletics track and now also a golf season ticket, giving each child the opportunity to play any of our three courses.” An adult multi-use membership is currently £34 per month while youth multi-use membership is £15 per month.

�-� For more information call 01294 316454 or visit www.kaleisure.com for full membership details.