GOLF officials have teed up exciting plans for a £200,000 makeover of an Inverclyde club.

The committee at Gourock Golf Club are proposing to invest heavily in enhancing the clubhouse on the back of yet another successful year at the Cowal View course, with membership levels and turnover on the rise.

Plans include the installation of a lift to improve access, upgrades to the ladies' locker room and other changing facilities downstairs, and a refurbishment upstairs costing around £233k.

Full details will be laid out at the club's annual general meeting tomorrow night.

Allan Warwick, general manager, said: "It's a really good story for not just the club but the wider community of Gourock and Inverclyde. "We will also be using local people for the project, and therefore investing locally, and there there could be potentially new employment opportunities here too."

The plans follow hot on the heels of a newly-expanded car park to accommodate growing demand at the club, and the £189k grant-funded indoor development studio, which opened in late 2017.

Both projects were overseen by outgoing captain Ian Macnaughton.

Improvements are being made in response to growth of memberships across all sections, with almost 860 registered members - up by 85 year-on-year.

That, combined with an increase in the number of club, private and community functions, helped Gourock post a small profit for the 12 months to September 30, 2019.

Mr Macnaughton said: "We're about golf but we're also a community building and that's the ethic of the club."

He is poised to hand over the reins to captain-elect Neil Beaton, who will step up from vice-captain tomorrow night.

Mr Beaton said: "It's a great opportunity to open this club to the community and push the anniversary in 2021, which in itself is a good story to tell as well as the continued success and development here."

The clubhouse refurb plans, which are subject to approval by members and planning permission from Inverclyde Council, would be funded by a mixture of loans, grants, commercial initiatives and any surpluses.

Mr Warwick said: "We won't divert funds from business needs such as maintaining and improving the course. "So far, we've had very positive feedback from members."

Gourock Golf Club's agm starts at 7.30pm tomorrow.