What betrayal of these golf club members reveals about the game

Guest Article by Custodian Golf: Beeston Fields Golf Course: What the Latest Announcements Reveal About a Growing National Pattern, Phil Grice, Head of Venues, Custodian Golf.

Recent communications to members at Beeston Fields Golf Course in Nottingham have confirmed that owners are exploring the potential for future housing development on parts of the site, alongside existing planning applications already in progress.

An email sent to members, as reported here, said: "I would state that it was not our original intention to consider submitting a planning application at this early stage of the ownership of the golf course, but the facts of the matter are the club's financial predicament, coupled with the change in planning environment, means that this warrants due consideration.

"This development obviously could have serious implications for the medium to long term future of the golf course, so we feel that it is only fair to share this information with you prior to decisions being made by yourselves with regards to the next cycle of membership renewals.

"However, we would stress at this stage that there are no certainties regarding the success of any planning applications we make."

Warwickshire-based property developer Cilldara Group, who purchased the site in November 2024, had given members reassurances that Beeston Fields would continue to run as both an events venue and golf club.

A former captain of the club has described this latest chapter as a "betrayal."

While no firm decisions have been made, and no immediate impact is expected before at least March 2028, the announcement has understandably unsettled members. It acknowledges both financial pressure and a materially changed planning environment, driven by national housing targets and local authority requirements.

From a wider industry perspective, this situation follows a pattern that has become increasingly familiar.

A Situation Long Visible in The Data

Phil Grice, director at Custodian Golf and a specialist in golf club sustainability and relocation, says Beeston Fields was already visible in national research well before the recent announcements.

"From our analysis around two years ago, Beeston Fields appeared high on our at risk list," Grice explains. "It also flagged as a prime development site once you look at land value pressure, planning context, and the underlying resilience of the business. So while the news is difficult for members, it is not unexpected."

Custodian Golf’s work is built on a comprehensive, data driven view of the game. Its national dataset covers every golf facility in Great Britain and combines participation data, land constraints, planning context, environmental factors, and competitive dynamics. That breadth allows structural pressure to be identified long before it becomes visible at member level.

"This isn’t hindsight," Grice says. "The warning signs tend to be there in the data years in advance."

Planning Change Does Not Create Pressure, It Reveals It

The owners’ update points to a significantly altered planning landscape following a change in government and the ongoing housing crisis. Broxtowe Borough, like many authorities, faces increased housing requirements and limited available land.

According to Grice, these shifts do not suddenly make clubs vulnerable.

"Planning pressure does not create fragility," he says. "It exposes it. When the economics of a club are already tight, changes in planning policy simply accelerate conversations that were always coming."

This is why Custodian’s approach combines decades of planning expertise with deep golf industry insight. Understanding how national planning policy, local development frameworks, and land promotion interact with golf operations is critical if clubs are to retain control of their future rather than react to circumstance.

The Impact of Uncertainty on Membership

Even where owners stress that outcomes are uncertain, the act of exploring development can itself destabilise a club.

"When members hear that planning applications are being considered, confidence inevitably shifts," Grice notes. "People pause renewals. Juniors hesitate to commit. The sense of permanence that underpins a members’ club starts to erode."

This dynamic is not unique to Beeston Fields. It is repeated across the country whenever uncertainty enters the system, regardless of intent or transparency.

Why Timing Matters More Than Intent

Grice is clear that situations like this are rarely about poor intent.

"Most owners and boards act responsibly and in good faith," he says. "The issue is timing. Once land control is diluted, once planning frameworks advance, and once incremental development begins, the range of viable options narrows very quickly."

This is where Custodian Golf’s model differs. By combining data, planning expertise, and golf specific insight within a single evidence based framework, clubs can explore options earlier, including whether relocation is viable, where it could work, and how it could be delivered without a break in play.

"We help clubs understand what is possible before decisions become binary," Grice explains. "That includes early feasibility, land promotion, planning strategy, funding, and delivery, all managed through one joined up process. No other organisation brings those disciplines together in the context of golf."

A Case That Raises Wider Questions

For now, Beeston Fields remains operational, and planning outcomes remain uncertain. The owners have been open with members about the situation and the timelines involved.

From Grice’s perspective, the significance of this moment extends beyond one club.

"Beeston Fields is not an isolated case," he says. "It reflects a wider challenge facing golf across Great Britain. Ageing facilities, rising costs, environmental pressure, and planning change are converging."

He adds: "This is not about blame. It is about recognising golf clubs as long term sporting assets. The earlier clubs use data, planning expertise, and golf specific insight to explore their options, the more control they retain."

As discussions progress at Beeston Fields, the situation stands as another reminder that in modern golf, the most important decisions are often shaped years before they become visible on the ground.

For more information on Custodian Golf, please visit https://www.custodiangolf.co.uk/.