Wentworth to repair its ‘Premier Inn’ renovation
Members say new owners’ clubhouse refurbishment was cultural and sporting vandalism
THE Chinese owners of Wentworth, probably England’s most exclusive golf course, have admitted for the first time that they went too far in stripping the clubhouse of its “heritage”.
Members have accused the owners of “cultural and sporting vandalism” after they ripped out wooden honours boards and historic golfing photographs and paintings.
The club has been in turmoil since it was taken over by Chanchai Ruayrungruang, a Chinese-thai billionaire who made his fortune selling the energy drink Red Bull in China.
In the latest sign of discontent, as many as 20 members are quitting, including the two recent club captains.
Wooden honours boards that listed winners of the PGA Championship, club trophy winners and past captains and which lined Wentworth’s famous Burma Bar and the rest of the clubhouse were thrown out in a £13million refurbishment. They were replaced with metal boards tucked out of sight.
Before-and-after photographs show the wooden panels and golf paintings removed and replaced with wallpaper. A marbled pillar has been encased in a mirrored glass box, leaving one insider to complain it now looked “like a Premier Inn”.
Neil Coulson, who was appointed general manager earlier this month, has now admitted to
The Daily Telegraph that the renovation went too far. Photographs and paintings that had been deemed out of keeping will be reinstated, he said. New wooden boards – the originals are thought to have been thrown away – will be put up in prime positions.
Mr Coulson said: “Since the renovation was done a lot was removed and we have a project to bring it back in. The new honours boards were put in when the renovation was done. But the members want to see something more prominent, and that is what we are doing. That is a project we have been focusing on. The members will be pleased we are bringing the heritage back into the clubhouse.”
Mr Coulson insisted the Chinese investment had improved the “experience” for members and said there was widespread recognition that the main golf course is dramatically better. “There was a lot of disruption four years ago,” he said. “But I think now the club is in a much better place for the membership; the owners are very happy with the way the club is progressing.
“You will always get disgruntled members who don’t feel it is quite right but we are hoping to address that.”
Sir Michael Parkinson, the broadcaster and Wentworth member, has previously bemoaned the takeover, complaining the Chinese owners were creating a club for the “super rich” with a “car park full of Lamborghinis”.
One member said: “The clubhouse [is a] soulless place now. It has changed from a golf club into a country club.”
Wentworth’s chief executive left earlier in the year and has been replaced by Mr Ruayrungruang’s 29-year-old daughter Woraphanit, who members complain is only occasionally seen about the club.
Accounts due in September will show multimillion-pound losses five years after Mr Ruayrungruang’s company Reignwood bought Wentworth for £135million from the restaurateur Richard Caring.
The most recent 2017 accounts show reported losses of approximately £7 million and 2018 is expected to show another multimillion pound loss.
The battle for Wentworth, situated on the well-heeled estate near Virginia Water in Surrey, began when Reignwood announced plans to cut the number of members from 4,000 to just over 800, with those invited to remain asked for a one-off payment of £100,000 to buy a debenture membership.