Following the recent reopening of golf courses across the country, Littlestone Golf Club in south Kent has been inundated with membership enquiries for both its Championship and Warren Courses.
In addition to regular golfers returning to the Littlestone fairways in droves, the club has also received a surge in interest from beginners wanting to take up the game for the first time, no doubt due to the fact that golf was one of the first sports to have participation restrictions lifted under lockdown.
Indeed the club’s Second Club and Fairway Club memberships for the Championship Course are proving so popular that a waiting list for these membership categories has been reintroduced. Afterall both categories represent incredible value for a course of this calibre; Second Club membership costs just £650 for 20 rounds whilst Fairway Club membership is on offer for £745 which includes 15 rounds and unlimited golf from November to February.
However as so many existing members in these categories then trade up to full membership, space becomes available almost every week ensuring new members do not have to wait too long to join Littlestone.
Despite a lack of rain during lockdown, both courses are in fantastic condition even though the tee sheets have been consistently busy since reopening.
Following the return of golf, some adjustments have been introduced to the members’ twoball and fourball and the visitor tee times over the Championship Course. For the next month or so the club is restricting morning tee times to the members though it has opened up the tee sheet to allow more fourball visitor golf after 1 pm. Indeed visitors can now play every weekday (except Tuesdays) and at the weekends as fourball after 1 pm.
An added bonus is that Littlestone has retained its 2019 green fees so all play after 2 pm is at the special twilight rate of just £50 per person which again represents excellent value for the Championship Course which is recognised as one of England’s finest links layouts.
Meanwhile the launch of the new under-30 and under-40 membership categories at the club’s other course, the Warren, have also proved to be a huge success with 60 plus new members signing up. Little wonder given that if you are under 30 you can have a seven-day membership for just £300 per year or if aged under 40, it is only £400 per annum.
A Warren Loyalty Card Scheme has also been introduced allowing you to buy 10 green fee rounds at the Warren for just £150, saving you between £5 and £10 per round. Moreover there are no restrictions on the Warren tee times so two, three and fourball golf can be played seven days a week from 7am, with individual green fees starting at just £20. All bookings can be made by calling the Pro Shop.
As for every club in England, the last month or so has been a period of vast adjustment as Littlestone has strived to ensure its members and guests enjoy their golf in the safest way possible. In line with government advice, Littlestone has introduced strict COVID guidelines both on and off course which can be found on the front page of the club website at www.littlestonegolfclub.org.uk
For the time being, large groups and societies (of 30 or more) are not allowed in the clubhouses but the club can provide packed breakfasts, lunches and light suppers that can be taken onto the course or picked up before or after golf.
Littlestone is regarded as a wonderful, traditional championship links course laid out on naturally undulating land and its own range of sand dunes. Set between Romney Marsh and the English Channel, this stretch of coastline enjoys a unique microclimate making it one of the driest places in England.
Testament to the quality of the course, it was to have hosted The R&A Junior Open in July, just prior to the staging of The 149th Open at Royal St George’s, both of which have been postponed until next year.
