It may be boom time for one Bristol golf course but frustration over a planning application for a new driving range has taken the edge off any celebrations.

Despite some tough challenges presented by the recession, The Kendleshire, at Coalpit Heath, has maintained a 750-strong membership and recently hosted one of Britain's top amateur events.

More than three years ago, the English Golf Union (EGU), the game's national ruling body, selected the Bristol club as the venue for the 2009 Reid Trophy, the leading tournament for under-14 boys and a traditional breeding ground for the stars of the future.

The Kendleshire won high praise from the EGU for the excellent condition of its course and the smooth running of an event which placed Bristol sport in the spotlight for visitors from Britain and all over Europe.

It could be assumed, then, that Pat Murphy, the club's golf director, might be sitting back and resting among some rather comfortable laurels.

But the man who has steered The Kendleshire from its "birth" 11 years ago, admits that his pride is tinged with more than a hint of frustration as he looks to the future.

Murphy's concerns centre on the club's planning application to construct a new golf driving range – vital for players to practise on before and after their round.

He said: "We have made two applications for a driving range here and the second one is now at appeal. We've also tried to get permission for a small hotel but everything we try to do seems to come up against a stone wall.

"The council doesn't seem to have any concept of what The Kendleshire brings to the whole community and what we're trying to do. In the 11 years of being here we've employed hundreds of local people and currently have up to 80 on our staff.

"We provide a stunning amenity for local people and, as far as our facilities are concerned, I believe there is no equal in this area. Our contribution to the game of golf in terms of its growth and potential in the region is second to none."

The Kendleshire is a regular venue for the Gloucestershire county amateur squads, as well as providing excellent training facilities for local teenagers such as Chris Lloyd and Hannah Barwood, who are now among the top young players in Europe.

Mr Murphy said: "The icing on the cake recently, of course, was the Reid Trophy.

"Apart from the youngsters who came from all over Britain, there were 39 from Europe and even one from Singapore. Most of them were here for a week and, because of their age, had to bring their parents and, in some cases, the rest of their family with them.

"There were hundreds of people at The Kendleshire, all enjoying our golf course and, just as importantly, being introduced to the local area – possibly for the first time – and boosting the local economy. My conservative estimate is that the event generated more than £120,000 of revenue for the local area, with hotels, restaurants, shops and taxis, all reaping the benefit."

The importance of a new driving range was brought home to Murphy during a telling conversation with EGU chief executive John Petrie, who described the hosting of the Reid Trophy as a trial run for bigger and better events in the future.

He said: "But he made it clear that our chances would be very much hindered by the fact that there is no decent driving range. If we were to get The Brabazon (one of the biggest of EGU tournaments) here you'd be talking about thousands of people coming to play and watch – and, again, the whole area would benefit from that. If our plans continue to be blocked – and we can't understand why – all that income is stopped as well. It's no good the council just saying 'no' every time, there are other implications which should be considered."

Murphy was puzzled further when a company owning a neighbouring piece of land was granted permission to construct a driving range and nine-hole golf course.

He said: "That was the final straw. We just don't understand why theirs has been approved and ours hasn't."

The plan for the driving range included a 20-bay building, with parking, floodlighting and landscaping.

It was turned down because the site is in the green belt and planners believed it would have a "significant and detrimental" impact on the area.

The land is also next to a designated site of nature conservation interest.

Planners further feared the facility would lead to an unacceptable increase in traffic on local roads as golfers travelled to and from the range.

Subscriptions at the club start at £212 a year – green fees at £12 a round – rising to £920 for unlimited golf.