Report: Donald Trump urged to buy prestigious UK golf club

A new report claims that US president Donald Trump is being urged to buy one of the UK’s most prestigious and best-known golf clubs.

According to The Telegraph, members at Wentworth – the host venue of the BMW PGA Championship and the home of the DP World Tour – are desperate for the Commander in Chief to make an offer to the club’s Chinese ownership.

Reignwood, owned by Chinese billionaire Chanchai Ruayrungruang, bought the Surrey club from restaurateur Richard Caring for more than £130million in 2014.

However, members have been left disgruntled by spiralling fees – which have climbed from £7,000 to £20,000 under Reignwood’s ownership – as well as a significant turnover in staff and cutbacks on amenities, such as a fine-dining restaurant.

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A petition has reportedly started to circulate amongst the membership calling for an emergency meeting to discuss the club’s future.

Speaking to The Telegraph on the condition of anonymity, one member suggested that President Trump could hold the answer to Wentworth’s problems.

Prior to assuming office, Trump built an impressive portfolio of golf courses and resorts around the world. That included his 2014 purchases of both Turnberry in Ayrshire, and Irish club Doonbeg.

He also built a golf destination in Aberdeenshire from scratch. Its first course opened in 2012 with a second set to be unveiled this summer.

“Whatever you say about Donald Trump, he has improved Turnberry and Aberdeen [the golf courses he owns in Scotland],” said the anonymous member.

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“It would be no bad thing if he stepped in and purchased Wentworth. Trump delivers on his promises while Reignwood makes ambitious statements and fails to deliver.”

Another member said: “For the past ten years, Reignwood has stated its mission for Wentworth is to become the world’s best golf and country club.

“But absent owners, unempowered management, staff churn, redundancies, a lack of engagement and very poor communication have created a gulf between this mission and reality.

“This EGM is being called for Reignwood to explain its strategies for closing this gulf to the membership.”

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