New membership arrangements are being introduced at Carlisle's Stony Holme golf facility.

The site is now managed by Mack Golf on behalf of Carlisle City Council and new pricing arrangements come into force next week.

Existing members are being reminded of the need to set up a new membership.

Any existing annual members will have the balance of their annual membership and subscription honoured by Mack Golf until it expires.

From March 1, it will cost £450 a year or £45 a month for a seven-day pass membership. A week-day pass is £35 a month or £350 a year.

New passes for young players are also being introduced - one of players under the age of 18 which will cost £50 a year and another for the under 25s that will be £175 a year.

Existing membership costs £32 a month or £320 a year and senior citizens pay £225 a year or £22.50 a month.

Current senior concession members will be able to sign up to a discount for their first year of membership. The staggered increase will cost £29.75 a month for a week day pass or £36 a month for the seven day pass.

An annual pass will cost £297.50 (week day) or £360 for a seven-day pass. After the first year, the prices will revert to the standard membership costs.

Councillor Anne Quilter, the council's portfolio holder for leisure, said: "New management arrangements have been in place since last December and to ensure the golf course remains sustainable in the future, price increases are necessary.

"Although some members will have to pay more, the prices are still substantially cheaper than other facilities of its type. We will also continue to subsidise the facility and would encourage existing members to sign up to take advantage of the introductory offers. We also encourage new members, particularly younger golfers, to also join up.”

The Stony Holme clubhouse has undergone an extensive restore and repair programme since it was affected by Storm Desmond in December 2015. The course and greens were also restored after the floods.

Mack Golf is a specialist golf operator and manages around 20 courses around the UK.