Has Asia’s richest man turned Stoke Park into a ‘glorified Airbnb’? Country club members claim the revered golf course was ‘sold from under their feet’ and turned into a playground for the rich and famous after a massive wedding celebration

Former members of a famous golf course featured in the James Bond film Goldfinger claim the iconic venue has been “sold under our feet” and turned into a playground for billionaires since it was bought by Asia’s richest man.

Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire was bought in 2021 by Indian tycoon Mukesh Ambani, who closed it for extensive “renovation” and cancelled the memberships of its 850 members.

Shortly after the purchase, a two-year project plan was announced to redevelop the golf course and a seven-star hotel in the palatial clubhouse that served as the setting for the James Bond film “Goldfinger.”

But three years later, access to the clubhouse is still closed and only a handful of golfers have been able to play – including the England cricket team before their Ashes series against Australia last summer.

Golfers are reportedly worried that the Ambani family has no real intention of running a proper golf and country club at Stoke Park, but wants to use the place as a “pimped-up Airbnb” during their stay in the UK.

A spokesman for the club stressed that work is still underway toto restore its facilities and build a world-class hotel and golf course, and to protect and enhance its heritage and parkland for the benefit of future generations.”

They strongly rejected the assumption that the clubhouse would simply be converted into a “large private home” for the Almbanis.

The wealthy family, who also own Hamley’s and were reportedly interested in buying Boots, recently made headlines with what may have been the world’s most lavish wedding reception, estimated to have cost £250 million.

On Friday, Mukesh celebrated the wedding of his son Anant with Radhika Merchant, the daughter of a wealthy pharmaceutical magnate.

VIP guests who flew to Mumbai to attend the glitzy event at the 16,000-capacity Jio World Convention Centre included Boris and Carrie Johnson, Tony Blair, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Priyanka Chopra, Nick Jonas and WWE star John Cena.

Images from the celebrations showed a “Disneyland” with giant flower sculptures, a replica of an antique shop and a shop selling lassi, a yogurt-based drink from Punjab.

After the ceremony, guests explored the lavish amenities, which included a lassi shop (an Indian drink) and an antique shop. “We are in a magical world,” Julia said.

The wedding was preceded by seven months of extravagant pre-wedding parties and festivities, which included performances by Rihanna and Justin Bieber and a Mediterranean cruise with 800 guests.

It has since emerged that the family may have already held another private wedding reception in Stoke Park. Photos and videos tagged “private pre-wedding reception” have been posted on social media showing a disco with guests dressed in white.

Meanwhile, photos were shared on Instagram in June showing Miss Merchant in a white Tamara Ralph Couture wedding dress in a building believed to be the clubhouse.

A spokesman for the club told the Times that they could not comment on the nature of the private events.

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Former members who spoke to the newspaper on condition of anonymity expressed concern about the future of the golf course, with one even claiming it had been “pulled out from under us.”

Mukesh Ambani bought the lease for £57 million through Reliance Industries Limited, the holding company of a vast corporate empire spanning energy, petrochemicals, natural gas, retail, entertainment, telecommunications, mass media and textiles.

Some pointed to an agreement reached during the sale process that the Ambanis would retain the mansion’s clubhouse as a country club or hotel and would not be allowed to use it as private property.

Thomas Hogg, a local Tory councillor, told the Financial Times that he feared the Ambanis had lived in the villa after purchasing it.

The newspaper reported that Stoke Park law firm Withers had written to Buckinghamshire Council in 2022 to say that the Ambani family had lived in the property from “time to time” to work out the renovation plans… “in line with permitted hotel use”.

An angry former member told the Times: “It’s kind of like a souped-up Airbnb. But it’s a pretty big and expensive Airbnb.” Another says, “It feels like the seat of a feudal court. It reminds me of Trump at Mar-a-Lago.”

Designed by Harry Colt in 1908, Stoke Park is considered one of the best golf courses in England and is regularly ranked among the top 100 in the world.

Since its purchase in 2021, a small number of golfers have been allowed to play on the course for a fee.

Stoke Park announced that the number of playing days per week will soon be increased from three to five, with up to 12 tee times, allowing up to 48 people to play daily.

There is now a new “Gold Academy” on site with a driving range with 15 tees and an indoor “Swing Studio”.

The Ambanis are known in India for their work in protecting wildlife, and Stoke Park now appears to have a menagerie of animals, including peacocks, horses and tortoises.

Meanwhile, a local claimed to have seen llamas grazing in an enclosure at the former ninth hole.

This is not the first controversy surrounding the Ambanis, the family has already caused controversy in 2021, after plans were unveiled to build the world’s largest zoo on a 280-hectare site in the West Indies.

They announced that they would house around 100 different species in the zoo and would establish a wildlife sanctuary in the city of Jamnagar.

The Ambanis had drawn the wrath of animal rights activists after two rare black panthers were transferred from a state zoo to a private facility in strict secrecy.

The 300-acre Stoke Park was also known as the venue for the annual Boodles Tennis Championships, where players honed their skills on the grass in the run-up to Wimbledon.

Former US President Donald Trump was said to be interested in buying the club in 2021. It was previously owned by the private King family.

Stoke Park issued a statement: “For the first time, the golf course is now open to the general public on a more comprehensive pay and play model. The decision to move to the pay and play model has been communicated to former golf members in 2022 as the future business model for golf at Stoke Park.

“In addition, we have already made use of facilities that have been available to us during the renovation, including the Boodles, the luxury summer garden party with world-class tennis, charity events and golf days.”

“We cannot comment on private arrangements between Stoke Park and its commercial clients. We continue to work closely with the Council as our landlord and the Planning Authority and other stakeholders, adhering to the guidelines and applicable rules and regulations.”