John Lewis Partnership has put the golf course that it owns in Berkshire up for sale in an effort to reduce costs.
The Winter Hill Golf Club, which is located in the village of Cookham, near Maidenhead, said it was in advanced talks with the department store chain over a sale of the site.
The 200-acre site was bought by John Lewis founder John Spedan Lewis in 1938, but the club was not opened until 1976.
John Lewis staff have been able to get a discounted rate on membership for the golf club, although it is also available to outside members. Around 20% of members are working or retired John Lewis staff and their families.
The full cost of an annual 7-day membership is currently set at £1,450, while week-day green fees are £50 for 18 holes.
The retailer informed staff this week that it would be closing down the club by the end of April, with plans to sell the course, the clubhouse and two residential properties. The company is looking to cut costs and is due to make £350m in debt repayments by the middle of 2025.
“This isn’t a decision we took lightly. However, the golf club is no longer used as the employee benefit it once was, with just one in five members now having a link to the partnership,” a statement from John Lewis said. “With a high level of investment required, for a very small internal audience, we have decided that Winter Hill is no longer the best use of our resources.”
John Lewis is in talks with nearby Maidenhead Golf Club which is considering moving to the Cookham site.
