what is happening at Wentworth - anyone know?

The Chinese company that bought Wentworth announced huge rises in subs and joining fees to pay for improvements to the course and clubhouse.

As I recall the subs were to double to £16k, the members had to stump up £100k for a debenture by next year. New members would have to pay £125k joining fee, as well as the £116k debenture and subs.

That was the situation as of November, with - unsurprisingly - 99% of the members saying they would leave. Most of them are sick of Ernie Els messing with the West course anyway.

Those are huge fees - by any standards - either the company (Reignwood I think) is going to produce an incredible golf club, or they are using the members to provide them with cash for whatever reason. Seeing the Chinese economy is tanking, I think I know.

All the members I knew have left already. They all regretted the day it ceased to be a Members' club in the 1980s.

Anyone know whether the members have managed to halt all this?

Beggars belief.

Is intriguing to see what they have planned. Especially if 99% do feck off.

There are loads of better clubs in the are, I am sure those members leaving Wentworth will find happy new homes.



Maybe the chinese will try and sell it to the European tour?

My understanding is the new owners are targeting ultra high net worth individuals e.g. Russian oligarchs, who will pay over the top for the cachet of exclusivity, even if they don't play golf. Trying to make it more of a "lifestyle" club.

Or maybe they want to turn the place into luxury homes.

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1890503/rough-members-prestigious-wentworth-golf-club-come-out-swinging

Pity, it's a course I've wanted to play since watching the old Suntory World Matchplay

There's nothing exclusive in being member of a club run by Chinese. Not even for Russians. I say, give them a try and let's see what happens.

**BUMP***

More news on Wentworth

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/article-3579475/Zero-chance-BMW-PGA-Championship-not-ahead-insists-European-Tour.html

Not surprised if the ET messes this up as well, given their track record.

BMW PGA about as popular as the olympics.

What are the chances of the 2017 tournament being there? If I were the ET I'd be talking to Sunningdale now.

Here is a thought. WGC's and majors offer fedex points. Will a tournament ever attract all the big names if you don't hand out fedex points from now on?

I am not saying I subscribe to that thought yet, but seems worthy of discussion.

It isn't the easiest thing in the world to rack up enough fedex points and playing events that don't offer them is a wasted week for players of a certain level (outside worlds top 25 say).

The fedex seemed like a gimmick when first introduced but now the currency of fedex points seems more valuable than ever.

Along this line of thinking there just isn't a lot of point in a lot of the words top 100 players playing the BMW PGA.

Why would a yank based player play the BMW PGA?


JAS

Given how unpopular the course is with the players and other factors harming the quality of field the event can attract lets hope for the sake of the ET's flagship event it is played somewhere else in 2017.

Good suggestion mac. But can't see PGA tour agreeing to support the growth of a rival tour, even if it is not in the same league.

ET is still based at Wentworth (for now), would expect PGA to continue there and would also expect new owners to be keen to retain it as hosting a tour event does bring prestige.

Sadly I don't think Sunningdale has the length to host an event for the big boys any more.

Ray

Sorry, I wasn't clear.  I didn't mean that ET should hand out fedex points for PGA but where does it leave it that it isn't one of the big events that hand out fedex points?

What is the biggest (most important) event not offering fedex points.

So excluding majors, wgc's, PGAT events, what is the best non fedex point offering event? (then think about biggest event not handing out ET points)




[PS - I know fedex points are not causative for being a bigger event]

Maybe the EuroTour should loosely follow the PGATour model at TPC Jacksonville.

Buy some land cheaply, and build their own golf course.  Maybe an old land-fill.