The Golf Business

22/10/2026

La Grande Mare has announced that its new Country Club is expected to open at the end of 2027, marking the next major milestone in one of Guernsey’s most ambitious multi-million-pound golf, hospitality and leisure developments.

Bringing together world-class dining, health and wellbeing facilities, the Country Club will build on La Grande Mares Golf Performance Centre and redesigned 18-hole golf course, broadening the development’s offering for islanders and visitors alike.

Designed by KKA, whose architects have worked on the project for the past six years, the building will combine world-class facilities with an approach that responds sensitively to its surroundings. Its evolving design draws inspiration from the local landscape and Guernsey’s buildings, with the island’s character shaping the development of its architecture.

The Country Club, which will be open to members, will include a gym and fitness studio, a 25m swimming pool, private dining and a private Country Club members lounge. A Brasserie restaurant with spectacular sea views over Vazon Bay will be open to all islanders. In addition, dedicated facilities for golfers will include a golf shop and a golfers’ restaurant and lounge bar, along with a private golf event room.

With some of Guernsey’s finest views, the setting is central to the Country Club’s appeal and to the ambition of creating an exceptional destination for the island.

Stephen Lansdown CBE, Owner of La Grande Mare, said: “Our ambition has always been to create something exceptional for Guernsey - a place that islanders can be proud of and that gives visitors another compelling reason to come here.

“The Country Club is a major part of that vision. It will bring together golf, hospitality and wellbeing in a beautiful setting, with world-class facilities second to none.

“This is a long-term investment on the island, opening up career opportunities, attracting new visitors and staging world-class events. We believe La Grande Mare will play an important role in strengthening Guernsey’s appeal as a destination for sports tourism and hospitality, while offering extraordinary experiences here at home.”

Chris Long, Director of KKA, said: “Over the past six years, the design has evolved through a close understanding of the site, the local environment and the vision for La Grande Mare.

“We have taken inspiration from Guernsey’s landscape and buildings to create architecture that responds to its setting while meeting the ambitions of a world-class Country Club. The views are a defining feature, and the relationship between the building and its surroundings has been central to our approach.

“Our aim is to create a place with its own distinct identity, where the architecture and the experience of using the building feel connected to Guernsey.”

22/10/2026

Chiara Tamburlini made a welcome return to Ladies European Tour (LET) action at the Hero Women’s Indian Open as the Swiss star opened with a 67 (-5) at DLF Golf & Country Club to take the day one lead.

Competing for the first time on the LET since July, and in only her sixth start on the circuit in 2026, Tamburlini came back with a bang firing seven birdies and dropping two shots in Delhi. This included three birdies in her first four holes at the 1st, 2nd and 4th. She would also birdie the signature 17th coming in.

“I had a lot of fun, honestly,” Tamburlini said, who finished T20 at the challenging DLF Golf & Country Club in 2025. “I’ve been having a lot of fun since I set foot on this golf course again on Monday. It’s been so nice to just be here and be in this environment again. I had two lovely playing partners [Jess Baker and Ridhima Dilawari]. We had a great time, and honestly, it was just simple golf again, which has been missing for a while. So that was really nice.”

The afternoon scorecard saw the Swiss star leapfrog early leaders Shannon Tan, the defending champion, and Argentina’s Magdalena Simmermacher who opened with rounds of 68 (-4) at DLF Golf & Country Club.

Winner of the 2024 LET Order of Merit, Tamburlini has been competing on the LPGA for the majority of 2026 where she sits 106th on their season-long Race to CME Globe. This week marks her first start at a non co-sanctioned event with the LPGA since February.

“It’s been incredible [being back],” the 26-year-old said, winner of three LET titles. “It’s been so much fun. I feel like I’ve been able to be myself in a way a lot more again. It’s been a different environment for me this whole year, with a lot of new learnings, and this has just been so nice. I don’t think I’ve stopped smiling because everybody’s so friendly and lovely. We’ve just been chatting the whole time, having dinners with different girls and having such a good time. It’s been incredible.”

One back in a tie for second is defending champion Tan. The Singaporean, also a three-time winner on the LET, had a excellent opening round going bogey-free at DLF Golf & Country Club.

“I hit it pretty well today off the tee and in regulation,” Tan said, who birdied the 2nd, 6th, 15th and 16th on Thursday. “To be fair, I actually missed a few shots out there, like the putts that didn’t drop. But I think overall, I’m bogey-free, and I take that in with me anyday, especially on this course. I think I was quite consistent out there today.

“It’s been great so far [being the defending champion]. I quite enjoy it. I think it’s not just the media stuff, but also having kids and fans come up to me and saying that they watched me last year and thanking me for being here this year as well. So I think it’s really nice to know that I have fans who support me. Overall, it’s been good for me.”

Simmermacher would match Tan’s score shortly after as the Argentinian birdied her final two holes, the 8th and the 9th, to return to form once again.

“I just felt very comfortable out there,” the 30-year-old said. “I hit some really good shots and had a very good strategy with my caddie. Overall, this course is a challenge to get around. It’s a patience game here, so I think we did a really good job.”

Simmermacher contended at the Women’s Australian Open earlier this year finishing sixth within a stacked field. Since then, however, the South American has struggled for form making just two cuts. After last week’s Aramco Korea Championship, Simmermacher visited Thailand with some fellow LET members to try and reignite her spark.

“We went to Thailand, to Phuket,” she explained. “We did some sightseeing, went to the beach, had some good dinners and a lot of fun. I played some golf with Alice Hewson and Whitney Hillier. We had a lot of fun, and it was good competitive training for this week.”

In solo fourth after day one at the Hero Women’s Indian Open is the in-form Sara Kouskova. The Czech star finished runner-up in Korea two weeks ago and battled through fatigue on Thursday carding a round of 69 (-3).

Asian Games Gold Medallist and home favourite Pranavi Urs is one back on two-under par. The Indian shares fifth spot with compatriot Avani Prashanth, Norway’s Dorthea Fobrigd and France’s Lois Lau.

“I’m feeling a bit under the weather,” Urs said. “My stomach’s not feeling good. That’s not good for this course considering how challenging it is. I just had to keep it all together and play, which I did very well.”

The 23-year-old played alongside Tan on day one where the two were able to add another chapter to their long-term friendship.

“We go way back, I think 10 or 12 years,” Urs explained. “We played junior golf and we’re now playing pro golf together which is pretty cool. I think to experience that with your childhood friend is amazing and not a lot of the girls get to do that. After I won my first event at the Asian Games, she said that she wanted me to win if not for her and I was there for her first win.”

22/10/2026

Ellie Gower shot a final round 67 to overcome a six-shot deficit to win the Super Bock Ladies Open on the LET Access Series (LETAS).

The Englishwoman, 24, finished on nine-under-par overall to pip compatriot Billie-Jo Smith (71) by two strokes at Vidago Palace Golf and earn a winners’ cheque of €8,000.

Overnight leader Lorna Mcclymont (76) finished in solo third place on five-under-par while Czech amateur Anna Ludvova (67) and Norway’s Silje Torvund Ohma (73) came another shot behind in a tie for fourth position.

This is Gower’s second victory on the LETAS after her debut triumph at the 2024 Calatayud Ladies Open.

“It means a lot,” she said. “I'm very happy to have won. I was quite a few shots back starting the day, so I didn't really know anything out there like what the scores were or anything.

“It’s really nice to win. My mom and dad are here, that’s very special to have them be here, my boyfriend is on the bag as well so it’s really nice.

“When I had my win in Calatayud, I was like, oh, is this just a fluke? Since then I haven’t really done loads, so getting another win tells me I can do it again. This win will give me a lot more confidence.

“It’s hard to win. It's hard to do well. Each week, the girls are really good and the competition is really tough. I've had quite a few good rounds, and I've kept myself in good positions after two days then I seem to always struggle on the last day. So I'm glad today is different from that.”

Beginning the day at three-under-par in the third-to-last group, Gower got off to a hot start with birdies on holes 3, 4 and 8 to make the turn in a tie for the lead at six-under-par with three other players.

Despite a bogey on hole 10, Gower picked herself up to birdie the par-4 13th and 14th holes back-to-back before holing a 15-footer for eagle on the par-5 17th hole to pull clear by four shots.

The London-born golfer three-putted for bogey on the closing par-3 18th hole, but had enough of a margin to clinch her second LETAS win.

“I holed quite a few key putts today, which I think helped,” she said. “I made one bogey on 10, but I didn't really let that affect me. Then I made two birdies in a row (on 13 and 14) then I eagled 17.

“I was a little bit nervous on that tee shot because the wind was off the left, so anything kind of a little bit right was not great. I hit a good tee shot, and then the wind was helping. I only had a nine-iron in, which was nice.

“My boyfriend was doing live scoring, and then when I finished I said to him, how have I done? And he said I think you need to get some of your Portuguese out because I think we might have won.

“I had no idea where I was. I knew I was probably doing well, but I didn’t know that I was winning. I don’t like to look too much (at the leaderboard) because I feel like it can put a bit more pressure on me.

Gower’s boyfriend John Wilding, who is PGA Professional golfer at St Andrew’s, was also on the bag when she won in Calatayud two years ago.

“My parents weren't here when I won a couple years ago, so to have that is really special,” she said. “Then my boyfriend John caddying as well. He was a lot of help, very calm which I think I needed.”

With her win, Gower will climb into the Top 20 of the LETAS Order of Merit (OOM) standings. The top seven golfers will earn their LET cards for the 2027 season will those inside the top 30 will be exempted from the first stage of Q-School.

“I’m not gonna lie, I don’t really want to do two weeks at Q-School, so knowing that now I’ve only got to do it one week, and if I do well again, who knows what will happen?”

Further down the leaderboard, Denmark’s Sarah Skovgaard Bils (70) and Switzerland’s Tiffany Arafi (75) will share sixth place at three-under-par overall.

English pair Thalia Martin (68) and Bel Wardle (72) are another shot back in a tie for eighth.

The quarter of Spain’s Ana Pina Ortega (69), Ireland’s Beth Coulter (69), Germany’s Chiara Horder (70) and Sweden’s Emelie Borggren (73) finished in a tie for 10th place at one-under-par for the tournament.

At even-par come Scotland’s Laura Beveridge (71) and South Korea’s Ayeon Yang (77) in a tie for 14th while Germany’s Lisa Marie Schumacher (73), Finland’s Katri Bakker (73) and Sweden’s Johanna Sjursen (78) are another stroke back ina. Tie for 16th.

Spain’s Alicia Fajardo Monzon (73) and Australia’s Hannah Reeves (74) round out the top 20 at two-over-par overall.

Portugal’s Sofia Barroso Sa shot a final round 79 to finish as the best local player in a tie for 47th at 10-over-par overall.

22/10/2026

Golf equipment distributor Brand Fusion International has added Alex Wheatley to its sales representation across the south east, where he will work alongside his father, Simon Wheatley

22/10/2026

The TGI Golf Foundation has raised more than £100,000 since launching in 2018, helping charities including Make-A-Wish UK and supporting TGI Golf partners and their families in difficult times. Its latest milestone follows a £12,000 donation to Make-A-Wish

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22/10/2026

Closing a golf course for housing doesn’t guarantee homes will be built.

Elmbridge Council has rejected plans for 206 homes on the former Moore Place Golf Course in Esher, citing Green Belt and heritage concerns.

Moore Place Golf Club Esher development refused

22/10/2026

A Northumberland golf and holiday park will be cut from 18 holes to 12 after a developer won a planning appeal for up to 180 holiday lodges and a leisure hub, the latest of several clubs to downsize their courses

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22/10/2026

The Madeira Golf Passport has a new brand identity, designed to strengthen the island’s reputation as a leading premium golf destination.

The rebrand includes a refreshed logo, typography and imagery, supported by a full set of brand guidelines and a suite of digital assets for the Madeira Golf Passport website and social media channels. The new identity presents the Passport as an exclusive and distinctive product within the European golf market.

The work was carried out for Madeira Tourism Board by GMS Agency. Its in-house creative division, GMS Studios, worked with the agency’s Lisbon-based Destinations office, which managed the day-to-day delivery of the project. The team combined creative skills with international destination expertise and local market knowledge.

Eduardo Jesus, Regional Secretary for Tourism, Environment and Culture, said: “We’re delighted to unveil the new identity for the Madeira Golf Passport. Partnering with GMS Agency has given us the expertise and creative strength to develop an identity that truly reflects the quality of Madeira as a golf destination and will help enhance its visibility internationally.”

Madeira has long been an attractive destination for golf. Its mild Atlantic climate allows play all year round, amid landscapes and ocean views. The island has three golf courses: Palheiro Golf, Santo da Serra and Porto Santo Golf, which was designed by Seve Ballesteros. A fourth, Ponta do Pargo, designed by Sir Nick Faldo, is under construction. Beyond golf, the island is known for its trails, botanical gardens, gastronomy and award-winning wines, all within easy reach of Europe.

Sam Elder, Co-CEO of GMS, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the work delivered on such a significant project, which showcases the strength and breadth of GMS Studios and our ability to work as one integrated international team.

“Our six-strong in-house Studios team brings together expertise across video production, editing, animation, photography, creative design, drone and digital content, giving us a genuinely broad in-house creative capability. By combining that expertise with the destination experience and local market knowledge of our Lisbon team, we have created a premium identity that communicates the uniqueness of Madeira’s golf experience and resonates with both golfers and the travel trade.

“The Madeira Golf Passport plays a key role in the island’s golf tourism strategy, and the new identity reflects its importance while positioning Madeira at the forefront of European golf destinations.”

The refreshed brand gives the product a consistent identity and supports Madeira Tourism Board’s efforts to promote the island’s golf offering in key international markets.

21/10/2026

A Portuguse golf club has launched Europe’s first operational on-course drone delivery service, allowing golfers to order food and drinks by WhatsApp and, using an AI-powered concierge, have them delivered directly to their location on the course

Golfers at a resort in Portugal’s Algarve region can now order food and drinks via WhatsApp, with an AI concierge processing orders before drones deliver them directly to players on the course.

21/10/2026

Foremost Golf, Titleist and FootJoy have marked the fifth anniversary of their Experience Days with three events at Hillside, North Hants and Royal Porthcawl, offering Foremost members and their guests product education, fitting sessions and a round of golf

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