The future of North Downs Golf Club has been secured after the historic Surrey venue was sold to a private buyer who has in entered into a long-term lease agreement with Get Golfing, the specialist charitable golf operator.
In 2018, the members of the 123-year-old club agreed to sell the facility to property development Safegolf after many years of trading losses. Safegolf proceeded to make a series of planning applications that would have seen the course given over to housing, but the application was rejected by Tandridge District Council and, as a result, the future of the club looked uncertain.
Ed Richardson, chief executive of Get Golfing, which has a portfolio of nine clubs in the south east of England, said: “The employees of Get Golfing and the members of North Downs are delighted to announce the acquisition and lease agreement. The club has been through a traumatic period of uncertainty and for it now to have gone into the safe hands of Get Golfing will lead to greater stability and a bright new chapter in the club’s long history.”
Richardson added: “I first came to North Downs to play a junior open when I was probably 14 years old, so it is a lovely feeling to now be able to come back some 40 years later and, along with others, work to re-establish the club having taken it from imminent closure.
“We would like to think we have started to build a reputation for investing in our properties, improving the playing surfaces and broadening their appeal. With 5,500 active members and over 100,000 unique visitors to our sites in the past 12 months, we believe we have the skills to improve the club and increase the amount of golf being played there.
“Since Get Golfing was set up in 2018, we have invested £3.8 million of operating surpluses back into our clubs and this will continue. For us, the location of North Downs between Redlibbets and Pyrford fits well within our nine-club portfolio.”
Get Golfing steps in to save North Downs
