Plans to build a 30-bay covered driving range at The Warwickshire Hotel and Country Club have been submitted to Warwick District Council.

The Leek Wootton club, which has two "championship standard" 18 hole golf courses, has applied to demolish its existing driving range and replace it with a more modern design.

Currently the club has 23 bays, only nine of which are covered.

Owner The Club Company Ltd said the current setup limits what can be offered to golfers - in particular it prevents the use of 'Toptracer' ball tracking technology.

"As the majority of the driving range is uncovered and open to the elements, its ability to offer all year round use is limited," the planning application said.

It added: "Toptracer has now been installed within over 100 courses within the country and is increasingly becoming a standard expectation for leading golf venues.

"However, the required monitors and technology means that it can only be used within a covered range bays which offer a degree of weather protection."

If approved the new range would be two-storey in places, raising 7.4 metres off the ground.

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Plans, which were submitted at the beginning of July, also show that a new reception area would be built as well as a parking area for buggies.

An artist's impression of the proposed 30-bay driving range (Image via planning application)

Nine floodlights would also be installed, but the club says these would have a lower wattage and be more targeted than the existing lighting.

And as well as tree planting along the grassed banks, 90 metres of 10 metre-high safety netting will also be built.

"Whilst the club's owner, The Club Company, has invested heavily in the hotel development and improvements to the health and fitness centre, new investment is needed in its golf offer if The Warwickshire is to maintain and build upon its position as a prestige golfing venue capable of hosting leading competitions and providing the latest facilities to its members and visitors," the application added.

The range would operate from 8.00am to 10pm, Monday to Friday and 8.00am to 9pm on weekends.