English resort stakes claim to host Ryder Cup

The chief executive of The London Club says that the resort would “put on a great show” if it gets the nod to stage the Ryder Cup.

Speaking to The Golf Business, Stephen Follett outlined his belief that the venue, situated around 20 miles to the south-east of the capital, deserves the opportunity to host the contest.

The London Club is understood to be one of three English golf developments in the running to stage the clash in either 2031 or 2035. Luton Hoo in Bedfordshire and Hulton Park in Bolton are the others but, unlike The London Club, their courses currently exist only on paper.

According to Follett, a major expansion that will include a new hotel and spa – named The London Project – will help elevate the offering at The London Club and put the former World Matchplay Championship and European Open venue in pole position to stage an upcoming edition of Europe and the USA’s biennial dust-up.

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“We have tried and tested it with DP World Tour events, but there are global events – Ryder Cups, Solheim Cups – that we should be looking at and aspiring to host,” said Follett.

“We are a part of the bidding process for the Ryder Cup. That’s been a fascinating exercise because the numbers they’re talking about – 70,000 people a day – is a different dynamic. But The London Project will stand us in good stead to become a venue to attract these global events.

“Mr Nagahara (the club’s first owner) wanted to create a venue to stage global tournaments. Now, the team is here, the facility is here, the product is here, and we believe we could put on a great show. I think that’s the right aspiration for the club to have.

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“It could be in 2031 or 2035. It gives us time to plan it and I think that is where I would like to see us go.

“I would like to see our facility become renowned alongside some of the other venues that have hosted Ryder Cups and Solheim Cups. That’s where we should be, we should be among those names.”

The 2025 Ryder Cup will take place at Bethpage Park in New York, with the next renewal on this side of the Atlantic set to be played at Adare Manor in Ireland in 2027.

Michael McEwan is bunkered's Head of Content and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Head of Content