Willingdon Golf Club

What Willingdon Golf Club does

Willingdon Golf Club is a private members' golf club founded in 1898 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, United Kingdom, and operating continuously for over 125 years. The club runs an 18-hole parkland course originally laid out by J.H. Taylor in 1905 and refined in 1925 by Dr. Alister MacKenzie, the architect of Augusta National, Royal Melbourne, and Cypress Point. The course plays to par 69 from the white tees at 6,094 yards (yellow tees 5,841 yards) and features MacKenzie's signature two-tier greens on holes 8, 9, 12, and 18. It sits on a natural chalk-based amphitheatre in the South Downs with views of the English Channel; the chalk substructure provides drainage that supports year-round play when competing Eastbourne/East Sussex courses close. Facilities include a putting green, short-game area, chipping area, practice nets, an indoor GC Quad launch monitor, and a PGA professional-led pro shop for lessons and custom fittings.

Name

Willingdon Golf Club

Legal name

Willingdon Golf Club

Website

https://willingdongolfclub.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1898

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Golf Club

NAICS

Golf Courses and Country Clubs (713910), Golf Courses and Country Clubs (71391)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Golf Courses & Golf Facilities (MPAKAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Golf Clubs & Tournament-Host Clubs (Professional/Elite Golf Clubs) (MPAKABAE)

Keywords

• Private golf club
• Golf course operations
• Clubhouse dining services
• Golf society packages
• Open golf tournaments

Headquarters

HQ city

Eastbourne

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Green Fees: Variable green fee system for visitors and guests of members playing one-off rounds. Guest green fee for members is £30.
2. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees including Full Membership (£1,453.92), 6-Day (£1,164.80), 5-Day (£1,086.80), and Junior (£75-£124.80) categories. Provides unlimited golf access and priority tee time booking.
3. Society and Corporate Day Packages: Group bookings with packages ranging from £47.50-£72.50 per player including golf plus catering options (breakfast, lunch, carvery). Minimum 12 players for most packages.
4. Food and Beverage: Clubhouse operated by The Beach Kitchen @Willingdon offering bar, restaurant, Sunday carvery, and event catering. Catering hours vary by day, bar open until 9pm Wed-Fri.
5. Open Competition Entry Fees: Entry fees for open tournaments including Mackenzie Cup, Willingdon Bowl, Junior European Open, and various team opens throughout 2026.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Willingdon Golf Club operates an 18-hole golf course in Eastbourne, UK, designed in 1925 by Dr. Alister MacKenzie (architect of Augusta National). The club provides member and visitor tee-time access on a par 69 course (6,094 yards from white tees), supported by practice facilities, an indoor GC Quad launch monitor, clubhouse food and beverage service via The Beach Kitchen, and a PGA professional-led pro shop. Revenue is drawn from annual memberships, variable green fees, society and corporate day packages, open competition entry fees, and clubhouse hospitality.

Product overview

Willingdon Golf Club is a traditional golf club offering a unified set of golfing services. The core product is the 18-hole MacKenzie-designed golf course (Par 69, 6,094 yards white tees), complemented by practice facilities (putting green, short-game area, launch monitor), an on-site Pro Shop with PGA professional services, and clubhouse dining via The Beach Kitchen @Willingdon. The club offers tiered membership packages (Full, 6-Day, 5-Day, Junior) and society/corporate event packages with catering options. Open tournaments provide competitive play opportunities throughout the year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 18-Hole MacKenzie Golf Course An 18-hole par 69 course (white tees, 6,094 yards; yellow tees 5,841 yards) designed by Dr. Alister MacKenzie in 1925, featuring six par 3s, three par 5s, nine par 4s, signature two-tier greens, and a chalk-based drainage system enabling year-round play. Open to members, visitors, and society/corporate group bookings.
• Practice Facilities Practice amenities including putting green, short-game area, chipping area, practice nets, and an indoor GC Quad Launch Monitor used for lessons and custom club fittings by the club's PGA professional.
• Clubhouse Dining - The Beach Kitchen @Willingdon Clubhouse food and beverage service operated by The Beach Kitchen, offering classic clubhouse favourites, fresh salads, hot and cold buffets, and the Willingdon carvery served on Sundays. Also provides catering for weddings, celebrations, and corporate events. Bar open until 9pm Wednesday-Friday.
• Golf Membership Subscriptions Annual membership subscriptions with four tiers: Full Membership (£1,453.92, unlimited 7-day golf), 6-Day Membership (£1,164.80), 5-Day Membership (£1,086.80), and Junior Membership (£75 for ages 11-16, £124.80 at age 17). Includes WHS handicap, county card access for reciprocal play, priority tee booking, and member guest rate of £30. Group discounts of 10% for 5+ and 25% for 10+ members.
• Society and Corporate Day Packages Group golf packages for 12+ players including Package 1 (£47.50) coffee and bacon sandwich plus 18 holes, Package 2 (£52.50) full English breakfast plus 18 holes, Package 3 (£60.00) light lunch plus 18 holes, Package 4 (£72.50) 2-course carvery lunch for 20+ players, and a Winter Package (£55.00) available 1 November to 31 March.
• Pro Shop with PGA Professional Services On-site pro shop offering PGA professional lessons, custom club fittings using the indoor GC Quad Launch Monitor, and golf supplies for members and visitors.
• Open Golf Tournaments

Quantifiable outcome

• Slope rating of 127 (men's white tees) with course rating 70.4 indicating quality challenge
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Beach Kitchen @WillingdoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates the clubhouse restaurant and catering services, providing food and beverage for members, visitors, society events, and private functions. Contact: 01323 410981 (Op. 3)
• IdentityminorOthersPartner acknowledged in 'With thanks to our partners' section on website
• Cavendish BakeryminorOthersPartner acknowledged in 'With thanks to our partners' section on website
• A1 Removals & StorageminorOthersPartner acknowledged in 'With thanks to our partners' section on website
• H.L MOT & Van CentreminorOthersPartner acknowledged in 'With thanks to our partners' section on website

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Royal Eastbourne Golf Club: Direct local competitor in Eastbourne offering a private members' 18-hole course, society packages, and clubhouse hospitality. Operates in the same catchment area and competes directly for members and society bookings.
• Prince's Golf Club: Kent-based private members' golf club with 27 holes, society packages, and event hosting. Comparable as a UK regional members' club with hospitality and tournament operations.
• Swinley Forest Golf Club: Highly regarded heathland private members' club in Berkshire with strong heritage and tournament pedigree. Comparable as a premium UK private members' course with limited visitor access and waiting-list culture.
• Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club: Historic heathland private members' club in Sussex offering 18-hole play, society days, and a strong competition calendar. Comparable as a heritage Sussex members' club in the same south-east UK catchment.
• The Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club: Historic Kent-based private members' links-style golf club hosting Open Championship qualifying events. Comparable as a heritage UK private members' golf club with open competition programming and elite pedigree.
• The Addington Golf Club: Surrey private members' golf club on heritage heathland, comparable in scale, business model, and target customer to Willingdon, with society bookings and a clubhouse restaurant.
• Eastbourne Downs Golf Club: Another Eastbourne-based golf club offering 18-hole private members' play, society days, and open competitions. Direct competitor for the same regional membership and visitor pool.

Broad incumbents

• Foxhills Club & Resort: Larger Surrey-based golf and leisure resort with multiple courses, hotel, F&B, spa, and extensive society/event facilities. Comparable as a UK golf leisure venue but operates at much larger scale with lodging attached.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/willingdongolf
• Facebookfacebook.com/willingdonprofessionalshop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/willingdon-golf-club-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Willingdon Golf Club