A GWENT family has saved a golf club from closure by buying it back, more than two decades after they built it.

The future for the 400 members who play at Alice Springs Golf Club at Kemeys Commander, near Usk has been secured after its original owners, the Morgan family, bought it last month for an undisclosed sum. Fifteen jobs have also been saved.

The course was built by Keith Morgan, 62, in 1987 and sold to his nephew Peter Morgan five years later.

It was then leased to a private company under director David Rowlands, but ceased trading at the end of March and went into voluntary liquidation.

Pete's sons Jonathan,40, of Usk and Benjamin,38, of Llancayo, saw the opportunity to restore the club as a family business and took the helm on March 31.

"It's superb to have it back in the family," said Peter Morgan.

"My son James (24) is the director of golf, my son-in-law Clive Smith runs the club house and I look after the course, so we are keeping it in the family," said Peter Morgan.

"My mother Alice passed away in 1982. I inherited the land that the Queens course is on and it was during the golf boom.

"The land wasn't suitable for anything else so I thought it would be ideal for a golf course."

"It took five years to get planning permission but in 1987 I designed and built the course."

Mr Morgan named the course in memory of his late mother.

"I named it Alice Springs after my mother who dearly loved to watch golf and after the two springs that are on the course."

"Membership was booming and the business was successful. I sadly lost my wife Denise in 2000 aged 44 to ovarian cancer and later took the decision to sell the business in 2002."

The Morgans launched the business under the new name of Alice Springs Golf Club Limited on March 31.

With family members at the helm and a staff of 15, Jonathan believes it makes the club very special.

"I helped dad build the course and was involved from day one. It's very close to all our hearts and we're thrilled to become the new owners," said Jonathan.

Jonathan Draper of Sussex-based Chantry Vellacott DFK confirmed that Alice Springs Golf and Leisure Club Limited, under former director David Rowlands, ceased trading in March.

It was placed in voluntary liquidation at a meeting of creditors on Wednesday.

It is not connected in any way to the new management which operates under the new name of Alice Springs Golf Club Limited.