Members of a golf club say they were being turned away at the door after a contract dispute that would surrender lease control.

Many private members, including those who have attended Batchworth Park Golf Club in Rickmansworth since its opening in 1996, were left shocked as they were refused entry on Friday (April 1).

At the entrance, staff wearing hi-vis jackets allegedly told people at the car park they would not be allowed in anymore unless they signed new membership contracts that were sent out – which many have refused to sign.

According to the Batchworth Park Golf Club Members Action Group, members currently hold some control of the lease and Crown Golf is hoping to attain full lease control through new terms set out in the contract.

 

Staff were evicting people from the site if they have not agreed to the new terms

Staff were evicting people from the site if they have not agreed to the new terms

 

The group believes that in doing so, Crown Golf will attempt to push for housing as the course is currently listed as a potential site for the development of 618 houses.

Last year, Three Rivers District Council listed sites that officers deemed could be built to meet Three Rivers’ 10,000 housing target over the next 15 years.

But many of the sites are within the protected green belt and prompted protests in the district and thousands of people to respond in a consultation.

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In a letter seen by the Observer, law firm Stephenson Harwood told the club it has “no right whatsoever” to prevent members from playing on the basis they do not agree to the new terms.

It stated the terms specifically were to require members to agree the golf course now belongs to Crown Golf and it gives the operator the right to expel members if it’s considered it’s in their own interest.

Multiple people affected have told the paper they are “furious” in how the situation is being handled and said the new terms are “unreasonable changes”.

Those that received a letter from lawyers representing Crown Golf said they found the tone threatening.

A spokesperson for Crown Golf told the Observer they would not be commenting on the matter at this time.