Kevin Pietersen fails in bid to join ultra-exclusive golf club

Kevin Pietersen has withdrawn his application to join Sunningdale Golf Club after members threatened to block the move.

The Telegraph reported that the former England cricket star was keen to join the ultra-exclusive Surrey club, which has a rumoured membership fee of over £90,000.

Pietersen, a two handicapper, lives in the area and is already a member at Wentworth – home of this week’s BMW Championship – but wanted to test his game on another of England’s iconic courses. Its understood that having consulting friends at the Berkshire venue, Pietersen asked to join the club.

• Ex-Premier League star banned from golf club over beer bottle stunt 

• Popular Scottish golf club to get new course

However, the 44-year-old’s application was dismissed before it was even formally proposed after it became apparent that four members could object.

At Sunningdale, if one member vetoes an applicant, they will not be able to join.

“All it takes is one difficult member to stop the process, so before a vote new members are verbally discussed by existing members,” a source told the Telegraph. “The formal process wasn’t even started because it was made clear there would be objections.

“Kevin was effectively blackballed – I’ve no idea why. He’s a good golfer and wouldn’t have caused any problems. I think he’s a member of Wentworth, so he will have to make do with playing there for now.”

• The drivers used by the longest hitters in professional golf

• 5 of the best golf courses in Ireland

In an ironic twist, one of the Sunningdale members is believed to be Andrew Strauss. The former England Test captain famously fell out with Pietersen during the pair’s playing days, but have since reconciled. Strauss is not said to have been one of those to object.

Pietersen, however, has not ruled out in re-applying for membership later down the line.

Last year, former Premier League player Jimmy Bullard revealed he is banned from playing Sunningdale after a viral video showed him teeing off from a beer bottle.

“I got carried away,” Bullard told snooker legend Stephen Hendry. “I had a few drinks. I put a Peroni on the first tee and I clipped a ball off of it and obviously, it’s not the thing to do.”

Ben Parsons is the Senior Writer at bunkered and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.