|
|
|
Cookham Webmaster
|
 |
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2023, 06:38:09 PM » |
|
Plans for Maidenhead Golf Club’s purchase of the site from JLP were set to be ‘finalised’, with members being told an extraordinary general meeting to vote on the matter would take place in April.
But in an email seen by the Advertiser yesterday (Wednesday), MCG said it has been advised that the JLP are ‘withdrawing from our negotiations’ and will be going to open market.
JLP has said it is ‘not pulling out of the deal’ and is ‘still in talks.’
If a suitable buyer is not found, it is still JLP’s intention to close the Winter Hill club in April.
A spokesperson said: “We’re still exploring options with Maidenhead Golf Club but, as we’ve also had interest from a number of parties, we are considering all options available.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cookham Webmaster
|
|
« Reply #2 on: March 24, 2023, 04:18:07 PM » |
|
Maidenhead Golf Course members were told in an email that the owners of the Winter Hill golf course in Cookham, John Lewis Partnership, have decided to walk away from talks to buy the site. According to the email, John Lewis Partnership will put the Winter Hill golf course on the open market to go out to ‘sealed bids’.
The email reads: “We were advised that the John Lewis Partnership are withdrawing from our negotiations to purchase the Winter Hill Golf Club and will be going to the open market. Apparently, it was a decision made by their property team to go out to sealed bids.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cookham Webmaster
|
|
« Reply #4 on: April 18, 2023, 11:47:59 PM » |
|
John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has announced Safegolf Ltd as the preferred owner for Winter Hill Golf Club in Cookham.
Maidenhead Golf Club (MGC) has been in “advanced talks” with JLP to acquire the site in order to move its operations there after its lease at its current site ends by the end of 2025 to make way for up to 1,800 homes.
MGC chairman Paul Louden has repeatedly said that this is the club’s “last chance for survival”.
While Safegolf Ltd will own the site, it will allow the specialist golf charity - Get Golfing - to run the club under a long-term lease.
Incorporated in 2018 with the objective of increasing participation in golf, Get Golfing has grown steadily with Winter Hill becoming its tenth club. This is their second new club in the past nine months, following North Downs Golf Club in Caterham, Surrey.
The charity is expected to invest in the club - both in the course and clubhouse.
The move also means that current members can continue playing at the club and has received support from those including current captains Jane Ohlenschlager and Dave Stock.
Jane, captain of the Winter Hill Ladies’ team, said: “We are delighted for all of the members of the club. Winter Hill means a lot to us, and we are thrilled with this outcome.
“Get Golfing has a strong track record. We've also spoken with members of their other clubs and can see they’re firmly 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.”
Last month, the JLP announced the sale and closure of the club, saying it is no longer used as the employee benefit it once was.
Only one in five members now have a link to the 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cookham Webmaster
|
|
« Reply #5 on: April 20, 2023, 10:28:55 PM » |
|
Earlier this week, the owners of the Winter Hill Golf Club, the John Lewis Partnership, announced it was selling the site in Grange Lane, Cookham to Safegolf Ltd – which will allow specialist golf charity Get Golfing to run the club under a long-term lease.
MGC was in “advanced talks” with the John Lewis Partnership to acquire the site for some time, but the owners later decided to put Winter Hill on the open market for sealed bids.
MGC was looking to buy the site in order to move its operations from its current site on Shoppenhangers Road as the land is earmarked for up to 1,800 homes.
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead bought the lease of the 132-acre golf course for about £16m to facilitate the large development.
Golf club members voted overwhelmingly last week to pursue the acquisition of Winter Hill after they were told repeatedly that this was MGC’s “last chance for survival” and that there is “no plan B”.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, MGC chairman, Paul Louden, didn’t want to comment too much on the rejection of their bid.
He said: “We’re very disappointed. We worked for the last two and half years with the John Lewis Partnership after they came to us. That’s why we’re rather disappointed by it all.
“However, we are where we are, and we will try and move on and see what’s next available to us.”
He added “more exciting things to come in the near future” after next month’s local election.
|
|
|
|
|
|
