Close House

What Close House does

Close House is a privately-held golf and hospitality resort in Heddon on the Wall, Northumberland, UK, operated by Close House Golf Club Ltd. (Company Number 05171769) and owned since 2004 by local businessman Sir Graham Wylie. The property comprises over 500 acres of parkland on the north bank of the Tyne Valley with estate heritage dating to 1779, situated approximately 10 minutes from Newcastle city centre and Newcastle International Airport. The venue employs 51–100 staff and operates as a destination resort rather than a single-venue golf club.

The core proposition centres on two championship 18-hole courses—the Lee Westwood Colt Course (7,000 yards from championship tees) and the Lee Westwood Filly Course (6,034 yards, par 70)—designed by Lee Westwood and Scott Macpherson. Golf infrastructure is supported by a 20-bay floodlit Toptracer Academy and Driving Range, TrackMan launch monitors, SAM PuttLab putting analysis, TPI physical profiling, and a 9-hole Yearling Par-3 Course. PGA teaching professionals deliver individual lessons, group tuition, performance coaching, and custom club fitting with equipment partners including PING, Titleist, Callaway, Taylormade, and Mizuno.

The business generates income across seven streams: green fees (Colt Course summer visitor rate up to £210), six membership tiers (Full, Corporate, Country, Intermediate, Academy Premium, Junior) billed annually, food and beverage at No.19 bar and restaurant (capacity 140), luxury accommodation (17 Courtyard suites, The Lodge 18th-century gatehouse, The Pavilion two-bedroom cottage), PGA-led tuition, custom club fitting, and corporate and private events. The venue serves individual golfers, golf societies, corporate clients, staycation guests, and diners through direct booking via closehouse.com and dedicated corporate sales channels, with third-party accommodation distribution via Eviivo and restaurant reservations through SimpleErB. The venue has hosted the British Masters on the DP World Tour (2017, 2020) and the International Series England on the Asian Tour (2023, US$2 million prize fund), positioning professional tournament hosting as a core element of the brand and PR strategy.

Name

Close House

Legal name

Close House Golf Club Ltd.

Website

https://closehouse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1779

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Close House is a privately-held golf and hospitality resort in Northumberland, UK, operating two Lee Westwood-designed championship courses, a Toptracer-equipped Academy, luxury accommodation, and No.19 restaurant for individual golfers, corporate clients, and leisure guests.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Golf Resort and Hospitality

NAICS

Golf Courses and Country Clubs (713910), Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (72111)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury Golf Resorts (THAGACAH)

Keywords

• Championship golf resort
• Golf and hospitality venue
• Golf tuition academy
• Luxury golf accommodation
• Corporate golf events

Headquarters

HQ city

Newcastle Upon Tyne

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Green Fees: Visitor and member green fees for playing the Lee Westwood Colt Course and Lee Westwood Filly Course, with seasonal pricing variations (summer/winter rates). Additional revenue from buggy, trolley, and club hire.
2. Golf Membership: Annual membership categories including Full, Corporate, Country, Intermediate, Academy Premium, and Junior memberships, providing playing rights and member benefits across the estate.
3. Food and Beverage: No.19 bar and restaurant generates revenue from breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, Sunday roasts, private dining, and à la carte dining. Capacity for up to 140 guests with panoramic views over Tyne Valley.
4. Accommodation: Luxury accommodation across three property types: 17 Courtyard suites, The Lodge (18th-century gatehouse with hot tub), and The Pavilion (two-bedroom cottage). Members receive preferential rates.
5. Golf Tuition: PGA teaching professionals provide individual lessons, group sessions, and playing lessons. Revenue from lesson fees ranging from £40-£120 depending on instructor and session type.
6. Custom Club Fitting: Club fitting services using TrackMan technology for drivers, irons, putters, and full sets. Fitting fee of £30 per 45 minutes applied toward purchase.
7. Corporate Events and Business Hire: Meeting and conference facilities including British Masters Suite (up to 36 theatre-style) and Westwood Suites (up to 150 guests). Revenue from corporate golf days and business events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Close House operates an integrated golf, dining, and accommodation destination centred on its two 18-hole championship golf courses (Lee Westwood Colt Course and Filly Course). It delivers a Toptracer-enabled practice and coaching academy, PGA-led golf tuition, on-site No.19 restaurant and bar, luxury accommodation (Courtyard suites, The Lodge, The Pavilion), and meeting and corporate event facilities on a 500+ acre Northumberland estate near Newcastle.

Product overview

Close House is a premier golf resort and leisure destination offering a unified platform of golf, dining, and accommodation services. The core offering centers on two championship golf courses—the Lee Westwood Colt Course and the Lee Westwood Filly Course—complemented by the Toptracer Golf Academy and Driving Range for practice and coaching. Accommodation spans 17 Courtyard suites, The Lodge (18th-century gatehouse with hot tub), and The Pavilion (two-bedroom cottage). Dining is provided through No.19 bar and restaurant, offering private dining for up to 140, afternoon tea, and Sunday lunches. Business services include meeting venues (British Masters Suite, Westwood Suites) and corporate/charity golf events. Additional offerings comprise golf membership programs, tuition by PGA professionals, custom club fitting, golf society packages, stay-and-play packages, and the Junior Masters tournament series. The portfolio operates as an integrated resort experience rather than a modular software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lee Westwood Colt Course
• Lee Westwood Filly Course
• Golf Membership
• Golf Tuition
• Custom Club Fitting
• Toptracer Golf Academy and Driving Range
• No.19 Bar and Restaurant
• Courtyard Rooms
• The Lodge
• The Pavilion
• Corporate and Charity Golf Events
• Business Meetings and Events
• Golf Society Packages
• Stay and Play Golf Packages
• Celebrations and Private Events

Quantifiable outcome

• UK Top 100 golf course ranking achieved within 8 months of opening
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• England GolfcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Close House Golf Club shares England Golf's belief that golf belongs to everyone and is committed to equality and diversity principles. The club follows England Golf's ED&I guidelines and safeguarding policies.
• Asian Tour / LIV GolfflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023The International Series England 2023 was a US$2 million tournament on the Asian Tour, launched through LIV Golf investment. This partnership brought world-class professional golf to Close House and positioned the venue on the international stage.
• Lee WestwoodflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Lee Westwood serves as Close House's attached touring professional and designed both championship courses (Colt and Filly). He hosts the British Masters at the venue and actively supports the club, regularly playing and training at the facilities. His involvement includes supporting the PING Junior Masters tournament and representing the venue internationally.
• PING EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017PING Europe partners with Close House and Lee Westwood to support the PING Junior Masters tournament series. The partnership provides equipment, support, and expertise for junior golf development across the UK, with qualifying events culminating in a grand final at Close House.
• Sir Graham Wylie FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011The annual Have a Heart charity golf day benefits the Sir Graham Wylie Foundation, which educates and inspires children and young people in the North East. The event has raised millions over more than a decade, attracting celebrity participants including Ant and Dec, Alan Shearer, and Lee Westwood.
• Scott MacphersoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Scott Macpherson served as architect for the Lee Westwood Colt Course, working with Lee Westwood to design the championship layout. The 'Old English' style course incorporates natural features and gentle footprint across the property.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Grove: Hertfordshire luxury hotel and golf resort with a championship course, 215 rooms, spa, and event venues — comparable as a premium UK golf-and-hospitality destination competing for the same corporate and staycation customer.
• Celtic Manor Resort: Welsh resort featuring the Twenty Ten course (2010 Ryder Cup), multiple courses, 330+ rooms, and extensive conference/event space — direct peer in the UK championship-golf-with-hospitality category, often used as a benchmark for tournament-host venues.
• Slaley Hall: Northumberland-based golf and leisure resort with multiple championship courses, accommodation, spa, and conference facilities — closely comparable regional peer operating in the same catchment as Close House with a similar integrated resort model.
• Wentworth Club: Surrey-based private members' golf club with three championship courses (host of the BMW PGA Championship), extensive practice facilities, and F&B — directly comparable as a premium UK members-and-visitor golf club with tournament pedigree.
• Gleneagles: Perthshire luxury resort with three championship courses, 232 rooms, multiple restaurants, and spa — directly comparable as a high-end UK/Scottish integrated golf resort with strong event and staycation trade.
• The Belfry: One of the UK's most recognized golf and leisure resorts, combining championship courses (host of multiple Ryder Cups), 200+ bedrooms, F&B outlets, and meeting facilities — directly comparable as a multi-course English golf resort with hospitality, corporate, and event revenue.

Broad incumbents

• Trump Turnberry: Iconic Scottish Ailsa Course (multiple Open Championship host), luxury hotel, and resort facilities — comparable as a global-brand UK golf resort, though at a higher international profile and price point than Close House.
• QHotels: UK collection of 17 four-star hotels with on-site championship golf courses, spas, and meeting facilities — comparable as a multi-property competitor targeting similar corporate event, golf break, and staycation demand.

Regional players

• Formby Golf Club: Top-ranked English links/heathland course in the North West with strong membership base and tournament history — comparable as a premium UK members' golf venue with similar visitor and society revenue mix, though with less integrated hospitality.

Emerging players

• Bovey Castle: Devon estate hotel with its own 18-hole championship course, spa, and country pursuits — comparable as a heritage English estate that competes with Close House for the luxury golf-and-staycation segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@closehousegc
• Facebookfacebook.com/closehousegolf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/close-house-golf-club-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/closehousegolf
• Xx.com/CloseHouseGolf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Close House