A team of eight members have taken over Shrivenham Park in a bid to stop it from closing.

Falling profits meant owner Paul Kirwin, of Ball Game Ltd, was looking to sell up, but he has agreed to let the group run the club for a six month trial period.

Captain George Platt and fellow members John Turner, Stuart Bentley, Ian Penfold and Debbie Elbourn are to manage Shrivenham Park as a new limited company.

A trust run by club secretary Mick Jefferies, head greenkeeer Trevor White and Sylvia Fones will look after the money.

Jefferies said: "The owner sacked all the staff last week as he was trying to sell the club.

"The course would have closed last Wednesday if we hadn't done this.

"After the trial period, hopefully he will offer us a long-term lease. We can't afford for the course to close.

"We've got just over 100 members, but we need twice that amount at least to make it worthwhile.

"At the moment we are all mucking in. The only member of staff we have is the greenkeeper."

Fees have been reduced to £350 for five-day membership and £450 for seven. Junior subscriptions are now £100.

Jefferies added: "We had a big meeting on Saturday and all the members agreed to go ahead with our plan.

"Hopefully it will be a success. It is something the members have always wanted to do, but we never had the opportunity before.

"The fees will go into a holding account, so members can be refunded if the owner sells up.

"He has said he wants us to make a success of it as he will benefit as well."

COUNTY RESULT

OXFORDSHIRE LADIES

County match - Alresford: Hampshire 4, Oxfordshire 2nd 5 (Oxon first): J Binning & T Holder lost to J Lewis and A Brewer 7 & 6; L Jupp & K Evans halved with D Holt and G Lewis; A Gowing & M Reading lost to F Khan & E Powell 2 down; J Binning bt J Lewis 5 & 4; L Jupp lost to D Holt 5 & 4; S Stirk bt A Brewer 5 & 3; T Holder bt G Lewis 7 & 6; M Reading halved with E Powell; A Gowing bt F Khan 1 up.