An adventure golf course has been unveiled before its official launch next week.
The construction of the £430,000 attraction in Beachfields, Sheerness, has been taking place for the last three months.
But today (Friday), Swale council showed it off at a ribbon-cutting event.
The course’s 18 holes are a nod to the Isle of Sheppey’s history and its landmarks.
These include the SS Richard Montgomery shipwreck, Sheerness Clock Tower and a Wright Brothers’ plane to mark the Island’s aviation heritage.
Many of the ideas came from Sheppey schoolchildren. Their drawings have been put on the plaques alongside the hole they helped to design.
Mayor of Swale, Cllr Karen Watson (Lab), was the first to tee off after cutting the ribbon – which was actually untied to save it for another event.
She said: “I am delighted to be here today to open this amazing facility that I hope everyone, not just on Sheppey but across Swale, will enjoy.
“I have had a practice by watching the golf on Sky last night.
“This is fantastic, and thank you to everyone behind it.”
Council leader Tim Gibson (Lab) says the course will bring people to the Island and help to improve the local economy.
Around 15 people are being hired to help run the new site.
The only other course of its kind in the borough is in Leysdown and, beyond that, Herne Bay.
Cllr Gibson said: “It will also get people to look around the Island thanks to the heritage theme of the holes.
“For far too long, Sheppey has been talked down. All I used to hear is how improvised it is.
“But the Island is on the up now.”
Like many other Kent coastal towns, Sheerness had been very popular with holiday makers, but fell into decline when those numbers fell.
But MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, Kevin McKenna, hopes the course marks the start of making the town and Sheppey a visitor destination once again.
He said: “It’s really good to have adventure golf here. It looks fantastic, with the heritage that we should be proud of and boast about here.
“We can also use the money this place makes to reinvest in other tourism options and things for the local community, and activities local residents want on top of the golf.
“It’s all about bringing money and supporting local businesses as well.”
The course, which is being run by Serco on behalf of the council, will open to the public from 10am on Wednesday, July 23.
However, the first session is already fully booked.
It is just one element of Swale council’s £20million Sheerness Revival Scheme, which aims to improve education and leisure facilities on Sheppey.
The authority announced the transformation of three garages at Masters House into dedicated business workshops had started yesterday (July 17).
All the money for the project has come from the government.
The funds are also going towards the revamp of Sheppey Leisure Complex, which started in May.
It is set to have a two-storey side extension and an expanded GP facility on the ground floor.
The nearby EKC Sheppey College is benefiting from the scheme in the form of a £5.48million new block being constructed.
Work on that started in February and is set to finish in October.
Beachfields paddling pool has also been shut until next summer as it too is undergoing a facelift.
