Historic golf clubs set to merge after course sold for housing

Two longstanding golf clubs in England have confirmed a historic merger after another course’s land was sold for housing. 

Despite significant backlash from campaigners, there are plans to build up to 1,500 homes on the popular Maidenhead Golf Course.

The 132-acre course in Buckinghamshire has been taken over by housing developer Cala Homes, with The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) hoping to bank £105 million from the landmark deal.

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Members at Maidenhead, therefore, will be relocated to Flackwell Heath Golf Club nearby, with the new venue set to be called Maidenhead and Flackwell Heath from January 1, 2026.

Both clubs are between 120 and 130 years old, but Maidenhead has been looking for alternative homes for a number of years, with houses set to be built on its current site at the end of 2025.

Andy Ferguson, chair of Flackwell Heath Golf Club, said: “We are incredibly pleased to be merging with Maidenhead. “Combining the strengths of both clubs and their respective memberships is the perfect match.”

Brian Aldridge, club captain of Maidenhead Golf Club, added: “Maidenhead Golf Club are delighted to have found a new home for our members. With our long-shared history and proximity to Maidenhead, Flackwell Heath is a perfect fit.”

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Founded in 1896, Maidenhead is a parkland course, with members moving to a wooded heathland layout at Flackwell Heath situated around eight miles away.

The move adds to the growing sense that mergers and relocations of golf courses are among the most plausible and practical options to keep golf clubs alive in a precarious climate.

Amid housing shortages across the UK and Ireland, golf courses are prized pieces of land for developers.

And just last week, it was confirmed that the prestigious Balmoral Golf Club in Northern Ireland would be relocating to a new course after being sold to a Dublin-based property group.

Having been saved from financial freefall, Balmoral will soon move to a yet-to-be-built championship course designed by Paul McGinley about four miles away at Ballylesson.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 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.