Distinction For Stoke Park

The Leading Golf Courses of Europe (LGCE), a corporation representing some of the continent’s most distinctive clubs, has gained its first English member.
The latest high-profile club to join the Zurich-based ‘umbrella’ organisation is the 300-acre, five-star Stoke Park, in Buckinghamshire, which possesses 27 Harry Colt-designed holes of golf and a 49-room five-AA red-star hotel.
The introduction of Stoke Park means LGCE now has 13 member countries, which, in turn, have nearly 40 individual member clubs, including Monte Rei, Turnberry Resort and Thracian Cliffs.
With its 100-year-plus history and outstanding facilities the Stoke Poges-based club was an ideal candidate to become the first English member, as Claus Feldt, general manager of LGCE, explained.
“We are all familiar with Stoke Park’s frontage from its inclusion in the classic golf scene in the James Bond film Goldfinger,” said Felt.
“It is iconic and the rest of the estate is equally as refined – it is the ideal first English member for LGCE and we believe there are a number of similarly luxurious properties in England which would also benefit from membership. Indeed, we are talking with several at the moment.”
Founded in 1908, Stoke Park hosted the first PGA Matchplay tournament in 1910 and now offers a combination of the traditions of an exclusive club and the best of today’s sporting, leisure, entertaining and hotel facilities in one of the most convenient locations in Britain: only 35 minutes from London and just seven miles from Heathrow Airport.
In addition to golf and the hotel, it features three restaurants and bars – including the three AA rosette, fine dining Humphry’s; 10 private rooms for conferences and entertaining, and indoor teaching for golf and tennis; 13 tennis courts – indoor, artificial clay and grass; 11-treatment-room spa and nail bar; indoor swimming pool; 4,000ft2 gymnasium, with more than 50 classes a week; a creche; games room; and a playground.
Stuart Collier, Stoke Park’s director of golf, added: “We are delighted that we are leading the way in England with our membership of LGCE. The benefits of membership are clear and it is reassuring to know that golfers across Europe are able to determine immediately the quality of our venue simply because we have the stamp of approval from LGCE.”
The idea of a Leading Golf Courses union was born in Austria, and was quickly copied in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Portugal. The creation of a European ‘umbrella’ association was a natural progression and it was inaugurated in 2012. It has since established itself as the leading European quality certification group, aiming to offer travelling golfers in Europe with peace of mind and a stamp of quality assurance.
Latest
-
News
On this day in 2008: Ryder Cup misery in Louisville for Nick Faldo’s Europe
Faldo was heavily criticised for his tactics in the closing singles.
-
Lucas Glover edges past Patrick Cantlay to claim back-to-back Tour wins
Glover, 43, ultimately claimed victory with a par on the 18th hole playoff after Cantlay found water off the tee.
-
Lilia Vu wins second major as Charley Hull comes up short despite stunning eagle
American Vu added the Women’s Open title to her Chevron Championship.
-
Lucas Glover holds onto lead in Memphis with Tommy Fleetwood two strokes behind
Glover said it was a scrappy day but he got ‘a lot out of’ what he had.
-
Charley Hull shares lead with Lilia Vu heading into final day of Women’s Open
The pair are nine under for the tournament.
-
On This Day in 2007 – Tiger Woods claims 13th major with victory in Oklahoma
The world number one successfully defended his US PGA Championship title.
-
Ally Ewing out to emulate Brian Harman with Open win
The pair share their southern roots, passion for hunting and college teams named the Bulldogs.
-
Ally Ewing storms clear during second round of AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath
At 10 under par Ewing enjoyed a five-shot lead over compatriot Andrea Lee and Japan’s Minami Katsu.
-
Jordan Spieth leads by one after first round of FedEx St Jude Championship
England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Aaron Rai are the best of the British contingent, closing out Thursday on four under par.
-
Rory McIlroy delighted with Tiger Woods’ role on PGA Tour’s policy board
Woods, 47, has not played since withdrawing from April’s Masters and concedes his playing opportunities will be extremely limited going forward.