“Taunton Vale” is a proprietary club wholly owned by Ron & Sybil Welch and Mead & Marsha Loxton. Ron and Sybil, retired farmers, joined forces with neighbouring farmers, Mead and Marsha in 1990 and decided to build 2 courses, a 9 hole now named ‘Durston’ and a 18 hole named ‘Charlton’ to meet the shortfall of golf courses in the area at that time. The land was ideal for their dream with magnificent views of the Quantock and Blackdown hills with very good access from the M5 motorway.

They employed the services of course designer, John Payne who designed the 2 courses. They immediately set about the huge task of construction with all ‘hands to the pumps’ and such was the demand for membership the course opened in record time in July 1991 with a Portakabin serving as the Office and the Clubhouse only partially constructed. The owners appointed a small Management team to run the business which was headed by the Club Chairman, together with the Club Secretary, Course Manager and golf Professional.

Provision was made for a members’ general committee chaired by the Club Captain to manage the members’ competitions, handicapping and social functions. This has proved very successful with at present, a mixed membership of over 700 enjoying a very friendly atmosphere throughout.

During 1994, major development of the Clubhouse was deemed necessary due to an ever increasing membership. A second bar was provided, extensive new changing rooms, toilets and showers plus a new pro-shop and management offices. The golf course has matured year on year. New trees have been planted and additional bunkers constructed with improvements such as these still ongoing. Societies and visitors to the ‘Vale’ continued to increase and it soon became evident to the Management that more improvements to the Clubhouse facilities were required to cope with the additional business.

By the end of the 20 th Century a new dining room had been constructed to include a dance area with the kitchens being considerably enlarged and refitted to cope with increasing Club and private functions. 2004 brought yet further building works with the extension of the dining room in the shape of a large conservatory, which shall probably now conclude Clubhouse works.

The owners dream to build a successful golf club with a fun and friendly atmosphere open to all has now been fulfilled.