An historic Worcestershire golf course has been saved from ruin after more than 1,200 players lobbied its owners to find a solution to its financial woes.

Nine-hole Pitcher Oak Golf Course in Redditch, which has been at the heart of the town for the last 97 years, had been earmarked for closure by its Redditch Borough Council owners as part of a wider bid to save £800,000.

Hundreds of people, including the Redditch MP, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, backed a petition opposing the proposals amid fears that the town may lose one of its “jewels in the crown”.

But now, council bosses have performed a U-turn on the plans and backed a management rescue bid by Worcestershire and Herefordshire County Golf Partnership.

The move is expected to save the local authority a total of £42,000 a year – a compromise on the initial saving of £85,000 had the golf club been closed.

The trial will initially last until the end of 2010 when it will be reviewed.

Andrew Boyd, Chairman of the Worcestershire and Herefordshire County Golf Partnership, said: “We know this is the right way to do things.

“We are not saying to people ‘give us your money and start to play golf’.

“It is very much an introductory plan.

“We are taking away the initial costs of playing, doing taster sessions for free and lending out equipment.

“After six to 10 sessions with a professional at a minimal cost, we hope to start producing quality players who will want to continue the sport in the long term.”

The management rescue bid also includes targeting schools with a junior academy being set up to make the most of Sport England grants.

It comes as dozens of golf courses across the UK struggle to make money as players cut back on the past time in an effort to direct their finances to more essential areas.

According to the English Golf Union, 19 golf courses have gone into administration since the start of the year, with 130 more facing “significant problems”.

In Redditch, both the ruling Conservative group and Labour group claimed credit for saving the club, which became the centre of a by-election battle which was eventually won by Labour’s Greg Chance.

Rumours have been circulating that 900 houses were going to be built on the land once the golf course had been shut down, although the Conservatives strongly denied the accusation.

Redditch Borough Council Leader, Coun Carole Gandy (Conservative), said: “We always had room in our consultation process to listen to the views of people and react accordingly.

“The initial recommendation to close the golf course has now been removed.

“But it is up to those same people who petitioned us to keep it open to make sure that it becomes a thriving success that we all hope it will become.”