Luton Hoo’s Bold Bid: Transforming a Historic Estate into the “Augusta of Europe” for the 2035 Ryder Cup

A Historic Setting with a Modern Vision

Luton Hoo is no stranger to grandeur. Its Grade I-listed mansion has hosted royalty—most famously Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on their honeymoon—and its 1,100-acre estate has long been a jewel of English heritage. But now, under the stewardship of the Arora Group, the estate is being reimagined as a world-class sporting and hospitality destination.

The ambition? To create nothing less than the “Augusta of Europe”, a course and resort that blends timeless elegance with cutting-edge facilities.

The Course: A Championship Redesign

At the heart of the redevelopment is a brand-new championship golf course, designed in collaboration with European Golf Design, the official design company of Ryder Cup Europe. Lending their expertise are two legends of the game: Justin Rose, a seven-time Ryder Cup competitor, and the iconic Gary Player.

Key features of the redesign include:

• Three additional holes to improve routing and spectator flow

• Enhanced viewing areas to ensure fans can follow the drama without obstruction

• Ecological improvements, including lake desilting and landscape restoration

• Construction by Atlantic Golf Construction, the same team behind Adare Manor, host of the 2027 Ryder Cup

  
  

The result promises not just a course fit for Ryder Cup intensity, but one that could become a permanent fixture among Europe’s elite venues.

Beyond the Fairways: A Luxury Resort Experience

The golf course is only part of the story. The estate’s Fairmont-branded hotel will undergo a complete redesign, blending historic architecture with modern luxury. Interiors by Kim Partridge will ensure the guest experience matches the grandeur of the competition.

This dual focus—on both the sporting and hospitality sides—positions Luton Hoo as more than just a golf course. It’s being crafted as a destination resort, capable of welcoming the world’s media, players, and fans in true style.

The Competition for 2035

Luton Hoo isn’t the only English venue vying for the 2035 Ryder Cup. The Belfry, London Golf Club, and a proposed new course at Hulton Park in Bolton are also in the running. But with its combination of history, location, and heavyweight design team, Luton Hoo has emerged as a frontrunner.

If successful, it would mark the first Ryder Cup in England since 2002, when The Belfry staged Europe’s dramatic victory.

Why It Matters

For English golf fans, the Ryder Cup’s return would be a generational moment. For Luton Hoo, it’s a chance to cement itself as one of the most prestigious golfing destinations in the world. And for the Ryder Cup itself, it would be a fitting stage—an estate steeped in history, reborn for the modern era.

As Surinder Arora, chairman of the Arora Group, put it: “It was always my dream to create the Augusta of Europe.”

Final Thoughts

The Ryder Cup thrives on drama, and Luton Hoo’s transformation is already delivering it in spades. Whether or not the bid succeeds, the project is reshaping English golf’s landscape. But if the dream becomes reality, the roars of 2035 could echo across Capability Brown’s historic grounds, forever linking Luton Hoo with one of sport’s greatest rivalries.