East Grinstead's popular Chartham Park has had a change of ownership.

The popular club has been sold by American Golf (UK) to Clubhaus, the golf and country club operator, for an undisclosed figure.

Originally, Chartham Park was owned by a Japanese family but was not a private members' club. In February, 1999 it was sold to American Golf (UK), when, in accordance with company policy, more society and corporate business was targeted.

Some of Chartham's 550 members were unhappy with the arrangement and there were changes in the professional staff. Now Clubhaus have announced ambitious plans for adding a fitness and leisure centre but, within the last few days, the company warned that current trading conditions meant that full-year results were unlikely to match last year.

Clubhaus is to take a £19.7m write down in respect of its French and German properties. That helped push the company into the red by £25.3m halfway, compared with a profit of £813,000 at the corresponding time last year say City reports.

Clubhaus also say that merger talks had ended, but that discussions were continuing over the sale of some individual assets. However, there was a share fall a week ago from seven to 22p.