Wentworth members’ fury at new fees offer

MEMBERS of Wentworth Golf Club spoke of their anger last night after being offered revised new conditions which would still see them forced to pay £100,000 debenture fees, but in two instalments.

The club members and its new Chinese owners are on collision course after failing to find agreement over a controversial new membership structure.

The group representing the Surrey club’s members and nearby residents, is furious that Reignwood, the Chinese conglomerate that bought the club from the restaurateur Richard Caring in 2014, is going ahead with the debenture scheme, along with “exorbitant” new fees and invitation-only membership conditions. Wentworth Residents Association (WRA) has instructed its lawyers to explore “all legal options” to block the new conditions.

That could lead to the group seeking an injunction or a judicial review to halt the imposition of the conditions.

John Pyle, of the WRA, said: “We are astounded that the club appears to continue to reject the very basic and reasonable concerns from residents with regards to the proposed new so-called ‘debenture’ scheme and we entirely reject the minor alterations offered.”

In a letter to the WRA, Reignwood has offered to allow members to pay the debenture fee in two non-refundable instalments by the end of 2019, with an initial payment of £20,000.

But that has been rejected by the WRA. Mr Pyle said: “Existing members will still be committed to paying the very high ‘debenture’ price over a period of a few years. The ‘debenture’ will continue to offer no equity, no interest and therefore amounts to nothing more than an unsecured loan. It is like having to pay an exorbitant joining fee to the club.”

A source close to the members said: “The matter is now being looked at by our lawyers and we are seeking their advice on how to oppose this. We are ruling nothing out at this moment and a legal challenge could be mounted.”

The WRA is also angry at Reignwood’s plan to reduce membership from about 4,000 to 888 invitation-only places. “We continue to reject any scheme which will throw out current members indiscriminately,” said Mr Pyle.

There are fears there could be a mass exodus. A survey of half of Wentworth’s members, before the latest offer was tabled, found that less than 10 per cent of the club’s golf members and only around 1 per cent of the Tennis & Health members planned to take up the new membership offer.

Among those opposed to the club’s proposals are Sir Michael Parkinson, the television presenter, and Russ Abbot, the comedian.

Reignwood said that under its new proposals, members over the age of 75, who have been in the club for 20 years, will not have to purchase a debenture. A preferential annual subscription will also be offered for current Tennis & Health members.

Stephen Gibson, chief executive of Wentworth Club, said: “These changes clearly show our commitment to our existing members.”