Oxfordshire’s oldest golf club has achieved the highest membership figures in its history as it begins its 152nd season.
Oxford Golf Club, located on Hill Top Road in Cowley, has seen a 66 per cent rise in membership over the past five years, with more than 750 regular players now taking to its course.
This marks the highest number of members in the club’s history, with more than 300 new members compared to a decade ago.
Steve Greenwood, general manager at Oxford Golf Club, said: “It’s a huge achievement to reach our highest membership figures on record and is something the whole team can be very proud of.”
Oxford Golf Club (Image: Fortitude Communications) The club attributes its recent growth to sustained investment in its facilities, including upgraded greens, a new irrigation system, and a waste-to-water unit that keeps the course open 364 days a year.
Mr Greenwood said: “Equally, delivering a quality course which can be enjoyed in all seasons has unquestionably contributed to the club’s success.
“It’s credit to our hardworking grounds staff and the team behind the scenes for making this happen at a time when weather patterns are increasingly unpredictable.
“The board of directors have too been instrumental in delivering the tools required to produce a course we are all very proud of.”
Mr Greenwood also highlighted the club’s efforts to broaden its appeal.
He said: “There is also a greater emphasis on diversifying our operation using the land and facilities we have at our disposal, with enhanced hospitality options, social events, and charitable functions for members and guests alike.
Oxford Golf Club (Image: Fortitude Communications) “Bringing our catering operation in-house has also improved the overall attraction of membership, with greater emphasis placed on the quality of our food and service.”
The club’s full seven-day, junior, and international membership packages are now at capacity, with only limited availability in restricted seven-day and five-day categories.
The latest figures from England Golf show 722,000 people across the country are members of a golf club.
However, CEO Jeremy Tomlinson expects more than 7,000 members to leave this year due to rising costs and an ageing player base.
Mr Greenwood said: “You have to go back to the 1990s to find membership numbers in the same bracket to what the club is achieving today. Even then, our membership base was 100 people fewer.”
Founded in 1873 as the original club of Oxford University, Oxford Golf Club features an 18-hole course designed by renowned golf architect Harry Colt.
Mr Greenwood added: “We’re ambitious, forward-thinking, and won’t be restricting our development plans to the course with other major improvements planned in the coming years.”
