THE GROVE is determined to get back to hosting championship golf events and is putting in the work to do so.
The glamorous hotel set just outside Watford in Hertfordshire last hosted a championship a decade ago when Alex Noren won the British Masters.
The grounds of The Grove are beautifully kept
An iconic par three that plays up to the main Grove house
More famously, won the WGC-American Express Championship at the same venue in 2006.
SunSport visited the venue for the 54 Cup, a day for media where we came… well, we didn’t win. Let’s leave it at that.
The Grove has re-designed its warm-up area with a revamped range and re-worked short game area behind it.
At the bottom of that hill now resides the new Taylor Made fitting suite named ‘The Kingdom’.
It hadn’t opened when we visited at the start of April, but the resort is now taking bookings.
Joel Westwell, Director of Golf at The Grove, said: “Away from the course, we’ve also made significant strides in how golfers experience and engage with the game at The Grove.
The Grove has plaques where Woods drove on the 9th hole to record two eagles Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
“A notable and recent development has been the introduction of The Kingdom at The Grove in partnership with TaylorMade, which has added a world class performance and custom fitting dimension to the resort.
“That facility reflects a broader shift towards offering more personalised, performance‑led experiences and positions The Grove not just as a place to play, but as a destination for improvement as well.”
The Grove has long been considered one of the premier stay destinations in the south; the England national team frequently uses it as its hotel and stayed there before the final in 2024.
It helps that the grounds have a delightfully kept pitch at the back of the grounds, but they want to bring the golf offering back to the forefront.
Playing the course for a second time, I could see the extensive work that has gone in to keeping the presentation – and service before you even play – immaculate.
You get the big time feel with the big time conditions. The tee boxes, the fairways and the greens are all kept in magnificent form, certainly fitting for players far better than I!
I’ve played a bunch of different courses that would be wonderful for big-level competitions, but they do not have the infrastructure to be able to house big crowds and put the players up during the tournament.
The Grove has all of that and they’re committed to steadily improve their offerings to sit alongside industry leading courses.
Woods’ win in 2006 is still heralded around The Grove grounds with plenty of memorabilia Credit: AP:Associated Press Best golf holiday deals
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They want to hold Championships again, but how are they going to do that?
Westwell said: “Hosting championships is absolutely something that remains part of the long‑term conversation, but it has to be approached in the right way. The golf landscape has changed, and staging major events today requires far more than a great golf course alone.
“It’s about alignment between infrastructure, commercial partners, governing bodies and the wider resort operation, and ensuring that when The Grove does host an event, it enhances both the venue and the championship itself.
“That means readiness across the course, facilities, logistics and guest experience, not just for one week, but in a way that leaves a lasting legacy.
“Our philosophy is to ensure the golf course and the operation are always built to championship standards.
“From there, if the right opportunity arises and all the pieces align, The Grove will be well placed to be part of the championship conversation again.”
Book your round at The Grove today
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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