Wimbledon’s £50million offer to TREBLE in size
HOME OF TENNIS IN £50m BID TO GOBBLE UP 73-ACRE GOLF COURSE ACROSS THE ROAD
Bigger home? 2017 champion Roger Federer KEVIN QUIGLEY The All england effectively sealed the golf club’s fate in 1993 when it paid Merton Council £5.2m for the freehold of the course, partly built around a sweep of southwest London fashioned by 18th century landscape architect Capability Brown.
That lease is not due to expire until 2041 when the course would automatically become the property of the All england, but they are keen to take over sooner.
Ten years ago they made an offer, which was quickly declined. Three years ago came another of £25m, which saw a vote of members reject even discussing a sale by a majority of 58 per cent. however, a new offer just shy of £50m is being taken seriously.
The thorniest part of the negotiations is the allocation of the proceeds from the bid, which could see the golf club wound up altogether or reduced, perhaps temporarily, to nine holes.
To discourage carpetbaggers, a rule states that only members of more than 10 years’ standing would receive a payout. Yet 40 per cent of members have been at the club for less than that. This is problematical because, under a further rule, a majority of 75 per cent is needed to agree a sale.
As one member told Sportsmail, around 450 members would stand to receive a six-figure windfall but 300 would be faced with losing their golf course without compensation.
The recent letter from the chairman acknowledges the difficulty. ‘We know that this is causing unrest and can assure you that any final proposal that is put to the voting members will include a more equitable allocation of proceeds,’ wrote Gaskin.
A series of consultation meetings with members are taking place at the golf club this month. Legal and corporate experts — paid for by the All england — will be on hand.
One concern for the prospective purchasers is that there could be a significant number of members wealthy enough to value use of the golf course for the next two decades over financial gain.
The latest moves come at a time when Wimbledon faces fierce competition for pre- eminence among the Grand slams in terms of prestige and facilities.
‘It is important we maintain our place at the pinnacle of the sport,’ said an All england Club spokesman. ‘Currently, our plans assume that we would be able to use the Wimbledon Park land from 2041. should it become available earlier, that would benefit our decision-making.
‘Any future development proposals will protect and celebrate the heritage of the park, respect the green open spaces and stay true to our ethos of tennis in an english garden, and — importantly — be delivered in partnership with the local community.’
The position at the neighbouring Wimbledon Club — which provides facilities for cricket, tennis, hockey and squash directly across from the Church road gates — is different in that it owns its freehold and is therefore master of its own destiny.
It has just sealed a muchenhanced deal with the All england Club to continue providing parking and corporate hospitality facilities during the Championships, which will now be marketed under Wimbledon’s brand.
The arrangement did not please some members of the Wimbledon Club’s tennis committee which was disbanded with a few key members asked to leave. There seems to be no plans for major changes to that site in the foreseeable future.