Forget the US Open – local care home opens its own crazy golf course

Highlighted home news

Jul 22, 2021

A care home in Sutton Coldfield has unveiled a brand-new ‘green’ for its golf-mad residents.

Care UK’s Mercia Grange, on Lichfield Road, may soon be vibrating to the cheers of Eagles and Birdies after launching its own indoor golf course.

 

The course was created for two amateur golfers, and residents at Mercia Grange, Joyce Branson and Freda Robinson. The Birmingham-born ladies fell in love with golfing several decades ago, with Freda joining Little Aston Golf Club when she was just 15 years old, while Joyce secretly joined her husband Victor’s golf club in Sutton Coldfield, even becoming a captain on the women’s team. She recalls: “He was shocked when he saw me on the course for the first time!”

Joyce then went on to take part in golf championships for Sutton Coldfield Golf Club for many years, while Freda continued taking lessons throughout her life.

Dawn Covill, Home Manager at Mercia Grange, said: “Here at Mercia Grange, we believe in promoting independence through activity-based care – and sometimes, this means turning the home into an indoor golf course!

“Joyce and Freda are lifelong golf enthusiasts, so until we’re able to visit our local golf course again, we thought we’d bring the green to them. Physical exercise is incredibly important, especially for older people, and doing activities that are special to them can encourage reminiscence too. Our indoor golf course helped to spark many happy memories for Joyce and Freda – and it was great to see everyone get a little bit competitive.  

“We’ll continue to practice our swing until our next game – I know everyone is really looking forward to it!”

Mercia Grange is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, nursing, dementia, and short-term respite care. The three-storey care home, which features 67 ensuite bedrooms, has been designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, hair salon and café.

To find out more about Mercia Grange, please call Customer Relations Manager, Aleksandra Luczynska, on 0121 314 3196, or email  aleksandra.Luczynska@careuk.com

For more general information, please visit careuk.com/mercia-grange