The Kent National Golf Course near Royal Tunbridge Wells, which closed to the public last autumn, has been bought by a local businessman.
The 223 acres of land on which the course is laid out was advertised as having several potential alternative uses, such as the grounds for a brand new country house, an equestrian cross country course, a game shoot, a leisure activity venue, a nature park, a deer park or farmland.
Emma Lawrence of Savills Leisure and Trading-related team in Oxford, who brought the course to the market in January, said, “We have had a huge amount of interest from a wide cross section of potential buyers. That led to ten offers being received and a sale was finally agreed in excess of the £750,000 guide price.
“The whole process was very quick. Contracts were exchanged in two days and the sale completed a week later. This just demonstrates the strength of the market for properties with good trading potential in sought after locations, as they provide an attractive form of alternative investment.”
The Kent National was originally developed during 1991 and 1992 bu the Japanese architect K Saito, whose ambition was to create a facility to challenge the most experiences golfer.
It was bought nine years later by golf chain British Ensign Golf and, at the height of its popularity, had a strong membership base. It closed in October 2006 after the clubhouse was sold for residential development but continued to be maintained in a playable condition.
Savills www.savills.co.uk/golf