Golf club members are locked in a “war of attrition” with the operator as around 400 people are still reportedly being refused entry.

Staff at Batchworth Park Golf Club shocked golfers last week by telling them they could no longer enter unless new membership contracts were signed.

Many refused as the new terms give operator Crown Golf full lease control – paving the way for potential housing at the Rickmansworth site.

Jason Clarke, who has been a member since 2011, said: “As of today they still have security at the gate and are only letting members in that have signed the terms and conditions, which generally is only new members.”

He says that members own a 99-year lease with 74 years remaining, and that there is a general refusal to grant Crown Golf full control.

Staff are turning people from the site if they have not agreed to the new terms

Staff are turning people from the site if they have not agreed to the new terms

Mr Clarke continued: “Their behaviour is not one of willing to work with the membership, to sit down and discuss. They’re looking for every possible tactic to disrupt the membership.”

Geoff Emmett, who has been a member since 2011, said he felt “at home pretty much straight away” but now feels the camaraderie has been “destroyed”.

Mr Emmett, who believes Crown Golf is trying to force people to hand over lease control, said: “It’s almost a war of attrition – trying to wear us down so that we give up.”

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On Friday (April 8) remaining members were told that a new business model is being considered to introduce a ‘pay and play’ 27-hole course using up 18 former Batchworth holes and nine former 9 of Herts holes.

According to the club secretary in a memo obtained by the Observer, this is needed after a backdated review shows the club owes more than £2.5milllion in rent since opening in 1997 which has to be “satisfied immediately”.

In response, Mr Emmett said: “It makes me angry. It’s a ‘members’ club and that’s what I signed up to, not a corporation club. Maybe the attitude of the club will change, it will become less personal and less important.”