Wycombe Wanderers propose new training base at historic golf course
Wycombe Wanderers have sparked controversy with their proposal to transform a historic golf course into the League One side’s new training base, reports BritPanorama.
The club intends to move from its existing Marlow Road facilities to South Buckinghamshire Golf Club, which was previously known as Stoke Park. This decision follows an agreement with Buckinghamshire Council to reduce the course from 18 holes to just nine.
The site is notable for its cinematic history as the location where the 1964 James Bond classic *Goldfinger* was shot, featuring the iconic scene in which 007 confronts villain Auric Goldfinger on the fairways.
Wanderers maintain that the arrangement will enable them to modernise the venue while generating fresh opportunities for sporting activities and the local community. The football club has pledged to cover all operational costs at the facility as part of the lease terms. In their official statement, the club confirmed: “As part of this arrangement, we are committing to cover the operating expenses of all the facilities on site. We can also confirm that public footpaths will remain open.”
Looking ahead, Wycombe Wanderers have outlined ambitions to develop inclusive public amenities, pending planning approval and community consultation. These proposals include a sports hub, artificial 3G pitches, and trim trails. However, this plan has drawn criticism from The Stoke Poges Task Force, a local community organisation, which argues that halving the golf course diminishes residents’ access to affordable sporting facilities.
Golf club chairman Michael Murphy has voiced concerns about the transition process, noting that members received only six weeks’ warning to adjust to the forthcoming changes. This short notice period has added to tensions surrounding the deal, with affected golfers given limited time to make alternative arrangements before the course is reduced to accommodate the football club’s training requirements. Murphy stated: “We believe it is important that the impact on the established sporting community is properly taken into account before a drastic decision to let half a golf course effectively go fallow and unused is enacted.”
Wanderers defended their investment, saying it would bring “financial stability” amid declining course usage. They emphasised, “The aim is to revitalise the course and broaden participation, making it more flexible, inclusive and attractive to families, young people, casual golfers and experienced players alike. Over recent years, the course has seen declining usage and has become financially unviable to operate in its current form. We want to bring financial stability and ensure that golf remains an active and sustainable part of this site for generations to come.”
As the club navigates this contentious shift, the balancing act between heritage and progression will determine not only the fate of a golf course but also the relationship with a community that cherishes its recreational spaces.
