Cookham 'relief' over withdrawal of new Winter Hill golf club entertainment licence

A licencing application for Winter Hill golf club has been withdrawn – allaying fears that it would turn what was once a ‘private members club’ into a ‘centre for general hospitality’.

The golf club, in Grange Lane, was taken over by the charity Get Golfing in April after its former owners, the John Lewis Partnership, decided to sell up.

The JLP decision caused much consternation for the club members, who were facing the threat of no longer having a golf club.

Maidenhead Golf Club had also been eyeing the Winter Hill site as a potential new home if it leaves its current base in Shoppenhangers Road but Get Golfing eventually won the bid to take over the Cookham course.

Get Golfing has since been making plans, including submitting a licence application to the council for showing films, live music and performances and the serving of alcohol from 10am to midnight.

After spotting the application, the Cookham Society contacted the council to raise concerns the proposals could create too much noise late at night, if approved.

Secretary Lysette Penston wrote in a letter to the Royal Borough’s licencing team on the society’s behalf: “Whereas Winter Hill effectively operated as a private members’ club when it was owned by the John Lewis Partnership, it now seems it will be open to all-comers.

“Indeed, it appears from this application that the operators intend that it will be run not solely as a golf club, but as a centre for general hospitality and entertainment.

“The site is in an elevated position and sound from it will travel over a considerable distance.

“Local people are fully aware of the potential for noise nuisance from periodic events such as Let’s Rock the Moor. A more permanent source of noise would be most unwelcome.”

Given its location, if the property ‘is not managed in a sensitive manner, there is the potential for considerable nuisance and disruption to its neighbours,’ the society’s secretary added.

The society called for measures to be brought in, including greater restrictions on alcohol, no late night refreshment or live events after 10.30pm and closing the car park at 11pm.

But Get Golfing has now said it has withdrawn its licencing application.

Ms Penston said the Cookham Society and neighbours would likely be ‘relieved’ by this news.

For the time being, the licence terms for the club when it was under the John Lewis Partnership still stand.

According to the company’s website, Get Golfing was set up to ‘support struggling English golf facilities and stem the flow of course and club closures’.

Jack Coleman, group clubhouse director at the charity’s head office, told the Advertiser the aim with all its sites is ‘to support the local community’. He said its community team is engaging with schools to provide free golf lessons.

“The team also works with local schools around many of our clubs to assist with free school meals – and other social support activities that make Get Golfing different from just another operator,” he said.

Get Golfing is also looking at wildlife preservation projects, maintenance work, and ‘mother and daughter days’ to get more women and girls into golf – among other projects in the pipeline.