The Willingdon Sports Club

What The Willingdon Sports Club does

The Willingdon Sports Club is a private members sports and social club headquartered at Arya Nagar, Tulsiwadi, Mumbai. Founded in 1917 and named after Freeman-Thomas, the 1st Marquess of Willingdon, the then-Governor of Bombay, the club began as a social and recreational space for the British expatriate community and later broadened to Indian membership after independence. It is one of Mumbai's longest-established private clubs, celebrating its centenary in 2017 with the publication of 'The Willingdon Club: A Centenary History.'

The club's core offering is a single integrated campus combining an 18-hole, par-65 golf course (designed by five-time British Open champion Peter Thomson), an Olympic-sized outdoor swimming pool, tennis, squash, badminton, padel, football turf, box cricket, a multipurpose sports area, billiards, card room, and a fitness center. Adjacent amenities include multiple dining venues, banquet halls accommodating 50 to 1,000 guests, a library, children's library and play area, dressing rooms, a barbershop and chiropodist, the SJP Saloon, and member retail (wine shop, pro shop, convenience store). Service delivery is member-facing only; there is no public commerce, no mobile app, no public API, and the website provides basic informational and member-login functionality.

The revenue model is membership-based: members pay access fees and dues, with invoice references of INR 6,500 and INR 12,500 visible in the data, and then consume F&B, events, coaching, and ancillary services on-site. The club generates additional revenue from banquets, dining, and in-house retail. No public financials, headcount, or membership count are disclosed. The customer base is concentrated among affluent individuals and families in Mumbai from diverse nationalities seeking premium sports and social infrastructure in an exclusive setting.

Name

The Willingdon Sports Club

Legal name

The Willingdon Sports Club

Website

https://willingdonclub.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1917

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Willingdon Sports Club is a 108-year-old private members sports and social club in central Mumbai offering an 18-hole golf course, Olympic pool, multiple racquet and team sports, fitness, dining, banquet, library, and retail facilities exclusively to its member families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Sports and Social Club

NAICS

Golf Courses and Country Clubs (71391), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Golf Courses & Golf Facilities (MPAKAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tennis & Racquet Sports Facilities (MPAKAEAE), Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)

Keywords

• Private sports club
• Golf course club
• Social club membership
• Recreational facilities
• Fitness club services

Headquarters

HQ city

Mumbai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Core offering

The Willingdon Sports Club is a private members club in Mumbai operating sports, fitness, dining, and social facilities. Its core offerings include access to an 18-hole golf course, Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis, squash, badminton, padel, football, cricket, billiards, a fitness center, banquet halls, dining venues, libraries, and grooming services, all reserved for members and their guests.

Product overview

The Willingdon Sports Club is a premier sports and social club in Mumbai offering a comprehensive suite of facilities and services. The club operates as a unified platform combining sports and recreational facilities (Golf Course, Swimming Pool, Tennis Courts, Squash Courts, Badminton Courts, Padel Court, Football Turf, Box Cricket, Multipurpose Sports Area, Billiards Room, Card Room, and Table Tennis/Carrom/Pool), fitness and wellness services (Fitness Center/Gym), hospitality and social spaces (Dining, Library, Children's Library, Children's Play Area, Banquet Halls, Dressing Rooms, Barbershop and Chiropodist, Savio John Pereira Saloon), and retail services (Wine Shop, My Shop, Pro Shop). The club, established in 1917 and celebrating its centenary in 2017, serves members from diverse backgrounds and nationalities in Mumbai's cultural heritage site.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Golf Course 18-hole, par-65 golf course covering over 6,500 yards, designed by Australian architect Peter Thomson. Features narrow fairways, strategically placed bunkers, and undulating greens. Offers lessons, clinics, and tournaments for members.
• Swimming Pool Large Olympic-sized outdoor swimming pool heated during winter months with lifeguards on duty. Offers aqua fitness classes including water aerobics.
• Tennis Courts Well-maintained tennis courts including clay and hard courts. Coaching programs available for adults and children at all skill levels.
• Squash Courts Six air-conditioned squash courts with state-of-the-art ventilation. Features memorabilia and photographs of famous squash players.
• Badminton Courts Indoor badminton courts with high-quality synthetic material, ample lighting, and ventilation. Coaching programs offered for adults and children.
• Padel Court State-of-the-art Padel Court for the fast-paced racquet sport, suitable for both seasoned players and beginners.
• Football Turf Pristine football turf for casual and competitive football matches.
• Box Cricket State-of-the-art box cricket pitch for fast-paced cricket matches and competitive tournaments.
• Multipurpose Sports Area Versatile sports area offering facilities for basketball, pickleball, and other sports activities.
• Billiards Room Well-appointed billiards room with multiple tables maintained to high standards. Hosts special events and tournaments throughout the year.
• Card Room Quiet and cozy card room with comfortable seating and tables. Available on first-come, first-served basis or for private reservations.
• Table Tennis, Carrom & Pool Dedicated area for table tennis, carrom, and pool games in a relaxed environment separate from other sports facilities.
• Fitness Center (Gym) Modern fitness center with cardio and strength-training equipment, personal trainers, and fitness classes including aerobics, yoga, and dance.
• Dining Multiple dining options including a fine-dining restaurant, casual cafe, and bar serving Indian and international cuisines with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
• Library Air-conditioned reading room with extensive book collection covering fiction, non-fiction, literature, history, science, and business. Also offers newspapers, magazines, and hosts events like author talks and book club meetings.
• Children's Library Vibrant library space with diverse children's books, encouraging young readers to explore literature and develop literacy skills.
• Children's Play Area Safe play area with engaging play equipment for children to enjoy social interaction and creative play.
• Banquet Halls Multiple venues from grand ballroom to intimate rooms, accommodating 50 to 1000 guests. Equipped with sound systems, lighting, projectors, and professional event planning services.
• Dressing Rooms Luxurious ladies and gents dressing rooms with elegant amenities, showers, grooming stations, and storage lockers.
• Barbershop and Chiropodist Classic grooming services including traditional haircuts, shaves, and chiropody services.
• Savio John Pereira Saloon (SJP Saloon) Unisex parlour offering haircuts, coloring, facials, and spa treatments with personalized care services.
• Wine Shop Curated selection of fine wines and spirits for members' occasions and celebrations.
• My Shop Convenience store offering groceries and household items for members' everyday needs.
• Pro Shop Sports pro shop offering sporting equipment, apparel, and accessories for various sports activities.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Gymkhana Club (Mumbai): A long-standing private members club in Mumbai providing sports, dining, and social amenities. Direct comparability with Willingdon as a Mumbai-located members sports and social club.
• Bombay Gymkhana: A historic private members sports and social club in South Mumbai founded in 1875, offering comparable sports, dining, and social amenities to an elite membership. Direct comparability with Willingdon as a heritage Mumbai members club.
• Bombay Presidency Golf Club: Historic Mumbai golf club operating a course and clubhouse for members. Direct comparability on the golf facility dimension with Willingdon, also serving affluent Mumbai members in a similar heritage context.
• Royal Bombay Yacht Club: One of India's oldest clubs (est. 1846) located in Mumbai's Colaba area, offering dining, social, and yachting facilities to an elite membership. Comparable as a heritage, membership-only Mumbai club with similar exclusivity positioning.

Regional players

• The Bengal Club: A heritage private members club in Kolkata founded in 1827, with comparable sports, dining, and social facilities. Comparable as a colonial-era Indian members club, though operating in a different city.
• Tollygunge Club: A large heritage sports and social club in Kolkata with golf, swimming, dining, and event facilities on a sizeable campus. Comparable as a multi-amenity Indian members club with banqueting and golf operations.
• United Service Club (Shimla): A heritage private members club in Shimla with dining, sports, and social facilities, founded during the British colonial era. Comparable as a historic Indian members club, though geographically distinct.
• Delhi Golf Club: A premier members-only golf club in New Delhi operating an 18-hole championship course. Comparable on the golf course operations dimension, though located in a different Indian city.
• Royal Calcutta Golf Club: The oldest golf club outside the British Isles (est. 1829), operating an 18-hole championship course. Comparable as a historic, members-only championship golf club in India.

Broad incumbents

• Soho House: A global chain of private members clubs offering dining, social spaces, fitness, and event venues to a creative-professional membership base. Comparable as a premium members-only club operator, though at much larger scale and global footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/willingdonsportsclub?igsh=YWp2dWpneDdtc3Fz

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 The Willingdon Sports Club