This time last year the final touches were being put to golf in Hastings going private.

The acquisition of Beauport Park, as it was then known, by Sat Lally, a 28-year-old businessman with no previous experience of the golf industry, was regarded as something of an adventure.

A large element of risk attended such a purchase as the golf boom had petered out.

The new owner paid what he described as a "low seven-figure" sum for the freehold of 186.6 acres from Cinque Ports Leisure Ltd in a deal that relieved the course from municipal management.

Hastings Council accordingly surrendered the leasehold arrangement they had with the owners, giving Lally and other private investors full control.

Elsewhere in Sussex some proprietorial and members' clubs were feeling the pinch of the economic recession that still shows little signs of easing.

So, after nearly a year, how is Hastings Golf and Country Club, to give its full name, making out?

Lally said: "The first year has been good.

"An irrigation system has been implemented and membership increased from 242 to 320 and the business is on target. We are looking forward to further capital investment."

At the outset Lally said his main aim was to offer competitively-priced golf enabling all to play. The annual rates worked out at less than £2.50 a round and £1.20 for seniors; a full seven-day membership costing £395 with seniors paying £100 less and under-18s only £95. Golf on a course of quality such as Hastings cannot get much better value than that.

Lally said on taking over: "Being a council course is over and done with. I see the way forward to making the course into one of the best and certainly the greatest value in the South East.

"It has a reputation for being difficult, but I see that as a plus and nobody can say it is boring or featureless."

Curiously, in these leisure-accented times, the council did not consider golf as being among the top ten sports that needed funding.

The annual subsidy was not regarded as best value and the council, while keen to attract visitors, was glad to be shot of their interest although the borough once boasted two courses popular with local residents and holidaymakers alike.

The membership never saw the course as a loss-maker and, after a prolonged delay, they were happy at long last to sit down with the new owner and hear his plans for the future.

Equally delighted at a change at the top was Mark Strevett, the course manager, and professional Charlie Giddins, whose services were both retained.

Meanwhile, Onyx were also pleased at the change of ownership and the company signed a contract for the maintenance of the course that runs until 2003.

Credit Trevor Webb, a town councillor, who didn't hide behind a fog of bureaucratic waffle. He said: "We did not have the money to invest in the course which was becoming a drain on our resources.

"The deal allowed us to concentrate on our key priority areas while safeguarding the future of public golf."

Strevett, who has been at the club ten years, endorsed the claims of managing director Lally.

He said: "This has been a very progressive year.

"There have been a lot of cosmetic changes to the clubhouse. We have also got new caterers and there has been a lot of work done on the course."

As to the green fee structure, there are no increases this year with £14 for a weekday ticket,weekends £17.50 or all the golf you can play on the day. Nine holes works out at £10 in the week and £12.50 weekends.

Strevett said: "In past years we have been closed for long periods during wet weather.

"But since October that has been reduced to three or four days and a lot of work has also been done on the greens.

"The council were very blinkered with what they wanted to achieve with the course.

"The owners have, in contrast, sat down with the members and listened to what they wanted. So many things have changed.

"People stop after playing and tuck into roast dinners and functions are held.

"I worked under the council for a long time and they hadn't a clue. The council wouldn't sit down and listen.

"We have an open house when members are encouraged to air their views. They can see the owners are trying to make an effort and, in this way, everybody is striving for the same thing. The future has to be bright."