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Basingstoke Golf Club, which first opened for play in 1907, relocated to a new site in the village of Dummer in 2021 – moving from nearby Kempshott Park and acquiring the land that was home to Dummer Golf Club on the outskirts of the town – before work began on a new 18-hole championship course last year.The previous layout at Dummer Golf Club has been totally redesigned, with the new downland course defined by a series of thrilling and undulating holes that sweep across rolling fairways, with several strategically placed water hazards adding to the test.While the full reopening of the club is pencilled in for September 2025, ten holes were opened to members in June, with the full 18 also opening on September 14. Development is underway on a new driving range – featuring the latest teaching and ball-tracking technology – along with a short-game area and large putting green.

David Green, general manager at Basingstoke Golf Club, said: “It was so important we developed a clubhouse that has a modern feel as we look to the future, but within it will be many historical references that have been key to the character and story of Basingstoke Golf Club.

“The clubhouse is quite a sight and will offer our members the perfect spot to unwind, with stunning views overlooking the new course, especially the 1st and 18th holes. The practice facilities will be nearby, helping to create a hive of activity as well as being convenient for those looking to warm-up before they tee off.

OPEN TO MEMBERS AND VISITORS

“A new car park will give our members and visitors more space, while the bar area and changing rooms are spacious and comfortable. The clubhouse will also be open to visitors and non-members, making it the perfect spot for families to socialise, while our food and beverage options will heighten the experience for all.

“Our soft opening of ten holes in June proved to be the start of an exciting summer and all 18 holes will come into play as the clubhouse opens. However, there is so much more to come over the course of the next year as we build towards that full reopening in the autumn of 2025.”

Meanwhile, membership enquiries have continued in a positive manner. The club has a full prospective members’ list but is excited to be taking the established membership from the old club and building on it as it looks to create a new legacy at Basingstoke.

Golf operations manager, Tom Robson, said: “Interest in becoming a member at Basingstoke is at an all-time high. We are receiving five to 10 emails with enquiries daily. These are on top of the usual emails about society bookings and function requests. With the golf course and facilities we have built, word has spread with the journey we are on to build one of the southeast’s best golf venues.

“Basingstoke Golf Club should be the place everyone wants to come and enjoy themselves, whether it be practising on the driving range, playing an incredible golf course, or relaxing in our state-of-the-art clubhouse.”

 

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The club, which first opened for play in 1907, relocated to a new site in the village of Dummer in 2021 – acquiring the land that was home to Dummer Golf Club on the outskirts of the town – before development on a new 18-hole championship course began last year.

DOWNLAND COURSE

The previous layout at Dummer Golf Club has been totally redesigned by Weller Designs, with the new downland course defined by a series of thrilling and undulating holes that sweep across rolling fairways, with a number of strategically placed water hazards adding to the test.

While the full reopening of the club is pencilled in for September 2025, a soft opening of nine holes on the new course is set to take place in late June, with a full 18 holes expected to be in play by the end of the year.

OTHER FACILITIES

To complement the stunning golf course, a state-of-the-art clubhouse will open in August before development begins on a new driving range – featuring the latest teaching and ball-tracking technology – along with a short-game area and large putting green. Full practice facilities are planned to be open by early Autumn 2025.

The vision is to create one of the southeast’s premier golf venues, taking the established membership from the old club based at nearby Kempshott Park and building on the club’s rich history to build a new legacy at Basingstoke.

The new facilities will enable Basingstoke to regenerate its membership and build for the future, while maintaining the values and standards that have been the foundation of the club for more than 100 years.

David Green, general manager at Basingstoke Golf Club, said: “This is one of the most exciting golf projects in the UK, and it is our shared desire to ensure we develop one of the southeast’s finest member-focused golf clubs with the quality of facilities that match the investment.

“Basingstoke has always been considered one of the region’s most established clubs, but we feel with the substantial investment that is being made we can move it to the next level and beyond.

“This will give the existing members a unique club that will not only have one of the county’s best courses – which will be hugely playable for all abilities – but also include a number of practice and teaching amenities where they can really get the very best from their games and membership.

These teaching facilities will also help to attract new and younger players to the game.

WHEN WILL IT OPEN

“Our planned soft opening in late June will be the start of a very exciting 18 months, and with our new clubhouse opening later in the summer, the club will, I am sure, develop a sense of camaraderie that all great clubs enjoy.

The clubhouse will be the perfect spot to unwind pre- and post-round – for members and their families – with a large bar area and comfortable changing rooms. Meanwhile, a function suit will allow us to commercialise in areas we haven’t done so before.”

Sustainability will play a key role in the development and complete rebuild at Basingstoke. Two water lagoons will help to fully irrigate the course, holding a combined 33,500 cubic metres of water.

Meanwhile, the implementation of fescue grass and ryegrass will help with wear and tear to keep maintenance work to a minimum.

TYPES OF GRASS

Scott Roberts, course manager at Basingstoke Golf Club, said: “The water storage that we have from our two lagoons is so important for the future of the club. To be sustainable, we must source water on site and recycle that to irrigate the golf course.

“Meanwhile, our grasses – a mixture of fescue and rye on the main playing areas and creeping bent on the greens – will help meet the standards we expect while being able to handle the traffic the course will no doubt experience.

We have also included large areas of long fescue to recreate the native downland landscape as a backdrop to some of the holes.”

HISTORY OF BASINGSTOKE GOLF CLUB

Basingstoke Golf Club first opened in 1907. It was originally created as a nine-hole course before James Braid designed a full 18-hole layout in 1926 on a site in Kempshott Park in the southeast corner of the town.

A parkland course, it would develop to become the most popular members’ clubs in the area, characterised by tree-lined fairways and subtle changes in elevation.

Over the years, the club would invest in several key developments, including the construction of a new, modern clubhouse and pro shop in the 1990s.

The club celebrated its centenary year in 2007 before moving to a new location at Down Street in the nearby village of Dummer, acquiring the land owned by Dummer Golf Club before work began on the new development in 2023.

Its downland layout – the work of Weller Designs – is set to be one of the most anticipated designs in the southeast, with state-of-the-art facilities, including a new clubhouse, driving range and practice areas, complementing the course.

For general enquiries, including membership, please email office@basingstokegolfclub.co.uk

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