Sussex golf club owner plans to add wine estate

The owner of a popular Sussex golf club is planning to convert part of one of the club’s courses into a 45-acre vineyard.

Work to convert one of the 18-hole courses at Mannings Heath Golf Club into a vineyard is set to begin in spring 2017 (Photo: Mannings Heath Golf Club)

Penny Streeter, Zimbabwe-born British entrepreneur with business interests in the UK and South Africa, recently purchased a majority share in Mannings Heath Golf Club, in Horsham, West Sussex, from the Exclusive Group.

Streeter is now proposing to turn one of the 102-year-old club’s 18-hole courses to nine holes and develop a 45-acre vineyard on the site. The West Sussex region is home to such successful wine estates as Bolney, Nyetimber and Kingscote.

Streeter is the managing diretor of A24 Group, which operates the biggest healthcare recruitment service in southern Africa, as well as operating the UK.

In addition, Streeter is the CEO of Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate, a wine farm and residential development in Walker Bay, South Africa, along with the five-star Lakeside Lodge Hotel & Spa, Benguela Brasserie, and Benguela On Main, also on South Africa’s Western Cape.

Mannings Heath Golf Club currently offers wine tastings of wines from Benguela Cove.

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Founded in 1914, Mannings Heath boasts two 18-hole courses, the championship Waterfall Course and the Kingfisher Course. The former is a members-only course while the latter is also open to visitors.

Under Streeter’s proposals, the name of the club will change to Mannings Heath Golf and Wine Estate, with more than half of the existing Kingfisher Course converted into a vineyard.

Streeter, who was awarded an OBE in 2006 for services to enterprise, plans to begin planting in the spring, the West Sussex County Times reported.

“When we acquired the golf club, it was our plan to improve the golfing, club and venue experience for members and visitors whilst at the same time expanding our wine and entertainment activities, Streeter said.

“We believe that the concept of wine and golf go hand in hand in attracting much-needed visitors and tourists to the area.

“We plan to apply for consent to erect a winery, new restaurant, tasting room.