'Sino-UK ties at risk': Chinese ambassador urged to resolve row between members of Wentworth golf club and new Chinese owners

Golfers at one of the world's most famous clubs have warned China's ambassador to Britain that Sino-UK relations could suffer if he fails to intervene in a membership dispute.

Players and residents from the prestigious Wentworth Club - home of the Ryder Cup - handed a petition to the Chinese embassy on Friday, calling on Liu Xiaoming to force Beijing-based Reignwood Investments to scrap plans for a massive increase in fees and a drastic cull of members.

"Reignwood want to turn our club into an exclusive haven for the wealthy elite. We want Mr Liu to warn Reignwood they need to think again or face resistance by members, who are prepared to do whatever they can to save their community and a great British institution," club captain Michael Fleming told the Post.

Reignwood, founded by Chinese-Thai entrepreneur Chanchai Ruayrungruang, bought the club, near London, in September last year, promising to preserve Wentworth's "unique culture".

But six weeks ago it announced that from 2017, membership would be slashed from 4,000 to 800, and existing members would have to reapply for membership and pay a £100,000 (HK$1.175 million) joining fee, up from £15,000. Annual fees would double to £16,000.

"The Chinese failed to consult with us about the changes," said member Nigel Moss. "And to add insult to injury to those of us who have been members for decades, they said we would have to pass an interview in front of a panel of unknown people and with unknown criteria."

Moss heads the "Save Wentworth for the Nation" campaign, which has the backing of hundreds of members and locals.

"We believe we are being kicked out to make way for Russian and Chinese oligarchs, and other wealthy elite, including those Chinese communist officials who have been banned from playing golf at home by China's president," he said.

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, Wentworth's MP, assured members in an official letter that he would seek a meeting with Reignwood to express his "disappointment", and said he would warn the Chinese owner of "the need for good community relations if it wished to apply for planning permission".

Reignwood, which owns the Pine Valley Health Club near Beijing, postponed an emergency general meeting called by members last weekend. A spokeswoman confirmed it was now in dialogue with a small number of member and resident representatives. She said: "It is extremely important for us to be an integrated part of the community."