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Chair’s Message

As we enter the autumn and winter season, I would like to reflect on a year of considerable progress and look ahead to the next phase of the Club’s development. Our priorities remain clear: to protect the quality and character of the Club, invest responsibly in facilities and infrastructure, and ensure that Roehampton Club continues
to meet the changing needs of current and future generations.

 

The climate is changing, and the year ahead may bring further extremes. Although London’s weather is never easy to predict, the broader trend is clear. Climate resilience will therefore remain an important consideration in both our capital investment and operational decisions. We ask for Members’ understanding as we work to maintain our magnificent Club while adapting responsibly to a changing environment. I would also like to recognise the exceptional efforts of our executive and grounds teams, who have sustained such high standards even during periods of acute water shortage.

Many of you have already had the opportunity to welcome our new Chief Executive, Rhys Beecher, to the Club. Over the next 12 months, the Board will work closely with Rhys to refresh our long-term strategy and extend the masterplan to cover the period to 2040–45. Rhys and I also intend to host an open forum before the end of the year, giving Members an opportunity to discuss all aspects of Club life, as we have done on several occasions in recent years.

All Club sections continue to enjoy success – too numerous to mention – with our Club competitions and championships, plus national and international team competitions taking place across all of our sports and games.

Notably, our men’s and ladies’ tennis teams won both the National Premier League (NPL) and the National Club League (NCL). Both teams winning the two biggest team club competitions in the country is an incredible achievement in our 125th anniversary year.

The Ladies’ Golf Scratch Team recently won the Surrey Scratch Foursomes while Issy Simpson and Alex Tonge represented the Club in the Hankley Common Scratch Mixed Foursomes and successfully defended their title.

 

Roehampton Club Member, Alfonso Patacho, and his playing partner Medina Murphy won the 2026 Padel National Club Championships – their first LTA Padel National Championships title together.

 

After an exciting summer including co-hosting the centenary of the MacRobertson Shield at the Club, which was won by the England team, the Club’s croquet team recently won the National AC Club Championship to regain the trophy that the Club held between 2022-24.

 

Our bridge players were triumphant in the Devonshire Cup earlier this year with outstanding double success against Hurlingham and Queen’s Club.

Capital Projects: Progress and Priorities

 

As we have consistently explained since 2023, the Club is delivering a programme of major strategic investment alongside smaller, targeted improvements. We set out these priorities at the outset and have reported regularly on our progress. We recognise that change can prompt a wide range of views; however, the Board must consider what is in the best interests of the Club as a whole, rather than those of any individual or particular section. Continued investment is essential both to maintain the quality of our existing facilities and services and to address emerging capacity constraints. The Board will remain clear about its medium-term objectives and will continue to listen carefully to Members’ views.

Member surveys and committee input have been invaluable in refining our plans and assessing our progress. Our Section Committees are a tremendous asset, drawing on the knowledge, enthusiasm and expertise of the membership. I would like to thank all committee members who give their time so generously; through their committees, Members have a meaningful voice with the Board. Minutes from the various sections are published on the noticeboards and website, providing valuable section-level perspectives. We will continue to take this feedback into account when reviewing the wider masterplan and individual investment decisions. The Member Survey on the Indoor Golf Centre (IGC) project, for example, attracted strong participation and demonstrated a clear level of support.

Clubhouse Upgrades – Piazza, Café, Solar, Kitchen and Infrastructure (Electrical, Air Handling and Plumbing), Bridge Room, Social Room, Members’ Bar and Terrace

We have now completed a series of important upgrades to the second floor of the Clubhouse, which had begun to look tired and uninviting.

 

Although the work caused significant disruption to Club operations, the completed spaces have greatly enhanced the Club’s social and community offer. I firmly believe that projects of this kind will deliver substantial long-term value. We are already seeing a marked increase in usage, as well as stronger appeal among younger Members and their families.

In the nearer term, we will review options to create more room within the Clubhouse through releasing office space. This will not require major capital expenditure, although it will cause some disruption in selected areas. Over the longer term, we will review the reception area, changing rooms and the entire front of the building, but only after a period of consolidation.

The large screen in the Piazza proved very popular during Wimbledon and the football World Cup. We intend to continue this initiative and explore further ways to enhance the appeal of the space.

Golf Provision Upgrades – Climate-Resilient Greens, New Bunkers, Golf Pods, Tree Planting, Netting, Short–Game Practice Area and Indoor Golf Centre

We are approaching the conclusion of a major four-year investment programme to significantly improve our golf provision. We thank Members for their patience while temporary greens are in use during the works. Three further greens are scheduled for completion in 2027, and bunkers will be refurbished on a further 12 holes in the next 1-2 years. Having played from several of the new bunkers, I can confirm that they perform very well.

Our borehole has made a significant contribution to water provision during periods of constraint. However, it is unlikely to be sufficient if current climate trends continue. We will therefore examine additional options for water retention and distribution over the medium term.

Short Game Practice Area (SGPA)

Although this project has received less attention than the Indoor Golf Centre (IGC), it has benefited from substantial input from our Golf and Professional Teams. We believe it will become a well-used strategic asset in its own right. The facility will include a large wraparound putting green which, alongside everyday practice, will enable us to host enjoyable competitions and social events, such as an 18-hole Club putting championship and short-game socials.

 

The landscaping of the short-game area is complete, and seeding of the banks has begun. The next phase will include completion of the green, bunker and chipping pods. The site already looks impressive and, once the grass and turf have matured, it should be outstanding. We expect the facility to open to Members during summer 2027. The existing putting and chipping areas will remain open until the new facility is fully operational.

 

Indoor Golf Centre (IGC)

In late 2024, Wandsworth Council granted planning permission for the Indoor Golf Centre. We have finalised plans for a 480m² centre with ten Trackman bays, which we expect to be well used. Although smaller than the original 720m² design proposed in 2021, it will provide an indoor practice facility that, to our knowledge, no other golf club in the UK can match.

 

These projects remain on schedule and within budget. We anticipate opening the IGC in February 2027, after which we will monitor its operation carefully. We expect non-golf Members to be able to use the facility for a fee, and we are considering how bookings and the allocation of usage times will operate.

 

Click here to watch the video of the artist impression and time lapse of the work to date (August)

Padel Hub and All-Weather Tennis Provision Implications

Planning has recently been submitted for the development of an additional five padel courts at the Club. Subject to approval, the location is set to be on the current Smash Courts 4–6. We expect demand for the resulting seven courts to be strong, given the popularity of comparable facilities across London, some of which charge up to £80 per hour. We do not intend to charge Members for court use, although limits on the number of guests each Member may bring will remain in place.

Looking ahead, we have established the Padel Forum to provide padel players with a direct channel for feedback to the Board. We also wish to thank the previous Tennis Committees for their stewardship in introducing, supporting and expanding the sport at the Club.

We recognise that, although the proposed padel development represents a sound long-term strategic decision, its construction would create short- and medium-term challenges for the Club’s tennis provision. This remains the subject of active discussion within the committees and the Board. We ask Members to consider the interests of the Club as a whole and to respect differing perspectives on what is understandably an emotive issue. Tennis itself was introduced to the Club as a ‘modern sport’ around 1911 and has since become an exceptionally important part of our past, present and future. We have made significant capital investments in tennis, including replacing the Indoor Tennis Centre, constructing two air halls, giving us ten indoor courts in winter and providing a range of modern court surfaces.

Financial Wellbeing

Although the Club remains in a strong financial position, we continue to operate against a backdrop of considerable political and economic uncertainty. At the end of August 2026, notwithstanding our significant recent investment, the Club remained financially robust, with net debt of £0.4m. This resilience reflects the prudent financial management and risk planning established over many years.

If all the projects outlined above proceed, we intend to pause larger strategic investments, or those exceeding approximately £3m – to optimise operations and reduce debt. Even so, the Club will remain in a strong financial position, with capacity to continue making targeted investments and respond to unforeseen requirements. Our debt coverage ratio remains modest and below historical levels. We expect our preferred coverage ratio to peak at around 2.5 times, compared with the maximum of 4.0 times permitted under Club policy.

The Board has carefully assessed these pressures in determining subscription levels for 2027, with the aim of preserving the Club’s long-term financial stability. Future inflation remains difficult to predict. Although we expect it to moderate following recent increases, key costs – including wages, energy and food – are likely to remain elevated. The Board will therefore set 2027 subscription levels responsibly, taking account of these pressures and the need to safeguard the Club’s financial security during an uncertain period.

Club Foundation

The Club’s Foundation is an important development for the Club, and I would like to thank Anne Wilkinson and Penny Egan for their leadership of the project. We are reviewing the full range of support provided by the Club, its sections and individual Members. Our intention is not to disrupt the excellent work that many sections and Members have undertaken for years, but to understand how the Club can support and celebrate it more effectively. We have decided not to establish the Foundation as a separate charity because of the associated legal and governance requirements. We believe we can retain many of the benefits of the initiative, although we will not be able to claim Gift Aid.

Membership

The Board is reviewing current membership levels in light of historical trends and the commitment made at the 2024 AGM to keep overall numbers broadly unchanged. Active sporting membership is limited to 5,000, comprising approximately 4,000 adults and 1,000 juniors. Given the increase in average usage per Member, we will assess whether sporting membership levels remain appropriate.

 

This letter covers a wide range of topics, but I recognise that many other important sections and interest groups also merit attention. We have not overlooked the Health Club – our most heavily used sporting facility – or the pressure on areas such as studio and strength-training space. Pickleball, croquet, art, bridge and our many other groups all contribute greatly to the life and character of the Club and remain firmly within the Board’s considerations.

On the formal side, the AGM was convened in June to conduct the Club’s statutory business. It included short presentations from the Chief Executive on the revised Masterplan 2035 and from the Chair of Finance on the Club’s current financial position. John Sinik, Richard Beim, Nick Yates and Andrew Wakely were duly elected to the Board. A list of the new committees and section liaison directors was published on the noticeboards. We look forward to their contributions to the Club.

I would like to thank my fellow Board members for their dedication and commitment to serving the Club and advancing its long-term interests. Finally, I extend my sincere thanks to my family, friends and fellow Members for their continued support, encouragement and constructive feedback. It is a privilege to serve as Chair, and I look forward to working with you all as we continue to strengthen the Club for current and future generations.

Michael Hill
Chair of the Board of Directors
October 2026