La Grande Mare set to be a 'world-class golf club and resort'

Saturday 05 January 2019

The billionaire businessman who has bought La Grande Mare Hotel, Golf and Country Club has set his sights high, telling members and regular customers he wants it to secure its reputation as a "world-class golf club and resort."

To do that, Pula Investments Ltd, which is owned by Stephen and Margaret Lansdown, has appointed a Resort General Manager with more than 20 years experience at the very top end of the hospitality industry.

Sacha Cauwels-Wigan has moved to Guernsey to take up her new post, with immediate effect. 

She is known to have a degree in International Hotel Management from the Hotel School, and has enjoyed an 'executive management career' over the last 20 years. Now she'll be running La Grande Mare - the former family run business of the Vermeulen brothers, Simon and Chris, who sold it on after a deal was made at the end of last year.

Ms Cauwels-Wigan said she's "extremely excited to have moved to Guernsey and to have the opportunity to further develop La Grande Mare and bring the team together to deliver service-centric and people-focussed hospitality in fantastic surroundings."

Pictured: La Grande Mare occupies an enviable position on Guernsey's west coast. 

With hundreds of golf club members, the new managers of the complex will be mingling with their customers too.

"As a keen golfer I can't wait to take on the challenge that is La Grande Mare golf course and I dare say the pro-shop will do well in selling me golf balls as on my first round I managed to lose a good few in the many water hazards around," said Ms Cauwels-Wigan. 

Her boss, the billionaire owner of Bristol Sports which includes Bristol Rugby, Bristol Flyers, and Bristol City Football Club, is also a keen golfer.

Stephen Lansdown said; "I've been a member of the hotel's golf club for a number of years and have been aware that the Vermeulen family were considering all options for the hotel's future.

"It struck me that this could be a great opportunity to invest in something on my doorstep and really build on the solid foundations that they have laid over the last forty years."

Pictured: La Grande Mare Hotel. 

With Mr Lansdown handing over control as Resort General Manager to Ms Cauwels-Wigan, the focus for many hotel customers, golfers and country club members is what will happen to the facilities they pay to enjoy. It already looks like the focus in the future will be on the golf club with Ms Cauwels-Wigan's CV regularly featuring golf already.

She has previously worked at The Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club and The Dubai Golf and Racing Club as well as for other leading hospitality brands including Sheraton and McDonalds hotels. 

Pictured top: La Grande Mare is now under new ownership.