Get Golfing takes over Winter Hill Golf Club

Winter Hill Golf Club, the Berkshire-based club owned by the John Lewis Partnership, has been taken over on a long-term lease by Get Gol ng, the registered charity founded in 2018 whose portfolio of clubs rises to ten on the back of its latest acquisition.

The sale of the club to Safegolf Ltd, with Get Gol ng running the club under a long-term lease, comes as part of a series of cost-cutting measures announced by John Lewis earlier this year in response to falling sales at its nationwide chain of department stores and Waitrose supermarkets.

A John Lewis spokesperson said: “This isn’t a decision we took lightly. However, the club is no longer used as it once was and with the high level of investment required for a very small internal audience, we decided that Winter Hill is no longer the best use of our resources.”

The sale, which was formerly completed on April 28, saw the Cookham-based venue become the tenth club in Get Gol ng’s portfolio, all of which – bar Ansty Golf Club in Coventry – are based in the south-east of England, and include Hampton Court Palace, Pyrford, Mill Green, North Downs and Redlibbets Golf & Country Club.

Get Gol ng has stated that it plans to invest in both the golf course and the clubhouse at Winter Hill with the intention to make the venue more accessible to a wider section of the community.

Ed Richardson, CEO of Get Gol ng, said: “When we rst heard about the plans to close the course, sell the land and disband the club, we immediately mobilised, reached out to our contacts and started to engage with John Lewis. They were receptive to our cause and our plans, and we cannot thank them enough for their support.”

The news of the takeover comes as a great relief to members of the club, which was originally set to close at the end of March but will now remain open under its new owners. Only one in ve members now have a link to the John Lewis Partnership – including a spouse or family member – with even fewer being a partner themselves. As a result, Winter Hill was used by just 0.2% of the organisation’s workforce.

Jane Ohlenschlager, captain of Winter Hill’s ladies’ team, commented: “We are delighted for all of the members at

Kent’s Jack Lee made history at last month’s Peter McEvoy Trophy by becoming the rst player to successfully defend the illustrious junior open title.

The tournament, which is held at Copt Heath GC in Warwickshire, was started by the former Walker Cup star in 1981 and previous winners include Peter Baker, Lee Westwood and Justin Rose. Hertfordshire’s Wayne Henry is the only other double winner, although he achieved that in 1984 and 1987.

Lee won by four shots last September and this time around, with the event reverting back to its traditional place in the golf calendar, he closed things out impressively, nishing two shots clear of Somerset’s Freddie Turnell (Burnham & Berrow) and Sussex’s Harry Malin (Bognor Regis).

Before the event started, organisers gave Lee the heads up regarding his opportunity to create a tournament rst. And, despite a little wobble on 11 and 12 in the nal round, he the club. Winter Hill means a lot to us and we are thrilled with this outcome. Get Gol ng has a strong track record. We’ve also spoken with members of other Get Gol ng clubs and can see they’re rmly committed to the game.

“We’re also on the same page when it comes to involving the community. With their management and our passionate support for our club and its membership, we’re really excited about our future and the potential to make even more of a positive local impact.” closed things out with a birdie at the last to nish four-under-par overall.

It is understood that Maidenhead Golf Club had also expressed an interest in buying Winter Hill, with a view to moving to the site following the sale of its golf course to property developers, but John Lewis went with Get Gol ng following a sealed bidding process.

“I had a good gameplan and I made a good start, so even though I bogeyed three times in ve holes it didn’t bother me too much,” said Lee. “I knew I was four shots ahead starting the back nine and also knew there were good opportunities coming late in the round.” and, after bogeying the second, responded in superb fashion at the next hole.

Lee also birdied 14 and learned on the 16th he had a one-shot lead. He parred that hole and just missed for birdie on the 17th before driving to within 30 yards of the last and pitching to three feet. The 18-year-old started the nal round with a three-shot advantage and, after bogeying the second, responded in superb fashion at the next hole.

Lee added: “I set myself the goal of playing the rst six in level par so that birdie was really helpful in making sure I was exactly where I wanted to be.”

The champion took advantage of the short par- ve 7th to get under par for his round and also birdied the next. Around the turn he came back towards the chasing pack after bogeys at nine, 11 and 12, but was never headed despite the best e orts of Turnell, who went bogey-free in closing with a 68, while Malin got into contention around the turn, but a bogey on 17 proved costly and he nished with a 69.