A golf club near Sevenoaks has taken a decisive step toward reshaping its future, after securing approval for a sweeping, multi-million pound transformation that will bring a luxury hotel, spa, sports facilities and new accommodation to the Kent countryside.
The London Golf Club in Ash, already known for its two Jack Nicklaus-designed courses, submitted plans last year for a 240-bedroom hotel, spa, sports pavilion and high-end lodges. Officials have now given the long-awaited green light, clearing the way for work to begin on what the club is calling The London Project.
The development will roll out in phases across the next five years, with the intention of evolving the venue from a high-level golf destination into a fully fledged resort. As part of the plans, the Grade-II listed South Ash Manor will be converted into a wedding venue with guest rooms, creating a heritage-led counterpoint to the modern architecture elsewhere on the site.
For Stephen Follett, the club’s chief executive since 2016, the approval marks a turning point. He believes the mix of new facilities will elevate the club’s global status and strengthen its long-term ambition to host the Ryder Cup in 2035. “We’re building the kind of infrastructure that is expected at world-class venues,” the club said in its planning document, noting that the project will put the venue in “a very strong position to host the biggest events in golf.”
Early design work is now underway, led by Holloway Studio, an architecture firm based in Hythe. The blueprint stretches far beyond traditional golf offerings. A new sports turf academy is set to include a classroom, 3G football pitch, and upgraded training facilities. Padel and tennis courts, equestrian amenities and even a natural swimming lake have also been designed into the landscape.
A new pavilion building will act as the main hub for family-focused activities, featuring a children’s club, fitness studios and expanded dining options. The club’s leadership says the aim is to shift the site from a largely seasonal draw toward a year-round destination where families, non-golfers and international guests feel equally at home.
The London Golf Club first opened in 1994, but the scale of this development represents the most ambitious evolution in its three-decade history. If all unfolds as planned, the quiet edges of Ash will soon host one of the country’s most comprehensive golfing and leisure resorts, with the capacity to welcome the world’s biggest tournaments – and the crowds that come with them.
