Wentworth Club has categorically denied a report that it is being sold to the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) and confirmed to Golf Monthly that the club is not for sale.
Reports emerged last week of a potential sale to the LIV Golf backers after DP World Tour player Eddie Pepperell said on his BBC podcast 'The Chipping Forecast' that he was told that the PIF was buying the BMW PGA Championship host venue.
The club, which which was bought in 2014 by Thai-Chinese investment company, the Reignwood Group, made it clear in an exclusive interview with Golf Monthly that there are no plans for the iconic British club to change hands.
"Wentworth Club can today confirm that these rumours are unfounded," the Wentworth Board said.
"Wentworth Club is not for sale. There have been numerous expressions of interests in buying Wentworth post COVID, but Reignwood is committed to its position of long-term investment in the asset."
And asked whether the club is looking for any extra investment or has been in discussions with the PIF, the Wentworth Board gave a categorical 'no'.
"No. The Club is in good financial status, there is no interest in bringing in additional investment," they said.
"There has always been global interest coming directly or through agencies with expressions of interest in purchasing the Club. There has not been any direct dialogue between Wentworth Club and PIF on this topic.
"Wentworth Club is not for sale, the Reignwood Group is committed to the Club’s future and is excited about the imminent launch of the reimagined and restored East Course as well as the new state-of-the-art Golf Academy.
"Wentworth Club is also an important asset in Reignwood’s global golf club portfolio, including Reignwood Pine Valley in Beijing and Reignwood Park in Thailand, which is currently under construction with total investment over 1 billion USD. Wentworth Club is in good financial status, there is no interest in bringing in additional investment."
Reignwood invested over £20m in the club after purchasing it in 2014, which saw extensive upgrades to both the West course and clubhouse. The Harry Colt-designed East Course is currently going under renovation while the club is also building a new par 3 course and state-of-the-art academy. There are further plans in 2025 to improve Wentworth's tennis facilities.
Wentworth has been home to the DP World Tour's flagship BMW PGA Championship for 40 years, and less than two months ago witnessed a playoff eagle from Billy Horschel to take down Rory McIlroy for his second win in the event.
The club described it as one of the "incredible moments" seen on the West course.
"We are honoured and proud to host the flagship event on the DP World Tour schedule, working closely with our fantastic partners and welcoming more than 100,000 spectators to our private estate," the Wentworth board said.
"Watching Billy Horschel lift the BMW PGA Championship for a second time after seeing off Thriston Lawrence and Rory McIlroy in a thrilling play-off and becoming the first American to win the BMW PGA Championship twice, was one of the incredible moments on the West Course."
Reignwood also has the goal of Wentworth becoming "the world's premier private golf and country club". It maintains that the exclusive membership model is working, which is a debenture system launched in 2016, and is delivering an experience for its members "like no other."
The six-figure debentures help fund the club's investment projects, with Wentworth now approaching 800 members.
"Since the acquisition of Wentworth Club, Reignwood Group has strived to continually fine-tune the overall brand positioning and structure of Wentworth Club, continually investing and enhancing in the short-term to ensure we achieve our long-term vision, that an asset with such a distinguished heritage in golf should be well preserved and long-lasting," the club told Golf Monthly.
"Wentworth Club cares for the environment in which it operates within, with a conscious focus on sustainability throughout the operation and at the same time creating the next generation of sports men and women with the Wentworth Foundation.
"The membership model is working, the Club is enjoying a schedule of continued investment and importantly we are delivering a membership experience like no other."
