The Sitwells The world famous Sitwell family are intrinsically linked with Renishaw Park Golf Club. The front nine holes of the course are ‘In the Park’ of Renishaw Hall which serves as the family home of Lady Penelope Sitwell and is open to the public on well advertised dates during the year. It is well worth a visit to the house and grounds. The 1980 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice used footage shot at Renishaw Hall. D. H. Lawrence is said to have used the local village of Eckington and Renishaw Hall as inspiration for his novel Lady Chatterley’s Lover. Sir George Sitwell was course founder and made two provisos; that there be no unsightly bunkers in the Park and secondly that there be an Artisans section with specially reduced rates so that the many work people on his estate, not to mention those who toiled in neighbouring Pits and in the Iron Foundry, could enjoy the game and the surroundings as much as the more well-to-do who formed the nucleus of the Club when it started. Sir Reresby Sitwell became president in 1984 until 1991 when the role was made honorary and was a position he served until his death in 2009. Lady Penelope agreed to carry on the role and performed the unveiling of a special plinth to mark the club’s centenary in 2011.
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