A curated network of 25 founding clubs, a digital platform for reciprocal play and a transparent ranking system — The Centenary launches its next chapter.
Utrecht, 10 March 2026 — The Centenary, the non-profit initiative connecting the world's historic golf clubs, today relaunches its platform with a sharper positioning and a clear mission: to build the premier network for reciprocal play among the finest 100-year-old golf clubs in the world.
Connecting historic clubs, properly
Reciprocal play between golf clubs has a long history. Many clubs have informal agreements, long-standing relationships and ad-hoc arrangements built up over decades. But informality has a cost: arrangements are often unknown to members, inconsistently used, impossible to measure and reliant on individual secretaries who may move on. There is no system. There is no balance. And there is certainly no digital infrastructure.
The Centenary changes this. The platform connects historic clubs through a fully digital system for reciprocal play — managing introductions, tracking visits and ensuring that the balance between clubs is visible and fair. No more letters. No more ad-hoc arrangements that benefit the few. Instead: a structured network in which member clubs and their members can discover, request and enjoy reciprocal access at peer clubs worldwide.
"We want reciprocal play to be something every member of a historic club can genuinely use, not just those who happen to know the right people," said Jeroen Korving, co-founder. "That requires structure, transparency and a platform that makes it easy on both sides. We also want to make reciprocal play more fun and easier to plan by using our interactive map."
25 founding clubs: selected, not self-selected
Not every 100-year-old club can join The Centenary. That is a deliberate choice.
The network launches with a maximum of 25 founding clubs, spread across multiple countries, with no more than three clubs per country. Each club must meet two criteria: it must be at least 100 years old, and it must hold a recognised standing in an authoritative national or international golf ranking.
To ensure transparency, The Centenary has developed its own ranking, compiled from multiple respected global and regional lists, that makes the selection criteria explicit and verifiable. Clubs and their managers can see exactly why a club qualifies, or why it does not. There is no ambiguity, and there are no exceptions.
The rationale is straightforward: clubs of comparable standing, age and values make for better partners. The Centenary expects that the kinds of clubs that meet these criteria will broadly share the same sense of hospitality, tradition and mutual respect — the foundations on which any reciprocal network must be built.
"We are not trying to be the largest network," said Leonard van Nunen, co-founder. "We are trying to be the right one. Twenty-five clubs that trust each other, that measure their interactions and that genuinely benefit from the relationship. That is far more valuable than a long list of names. When this works nicely, we will look for more clubs to join The Centenary. But, being part of The Centenary will always be something exclusive."
A platform built around balance and insight
Every visit through The Centenary is tracked. Clubs can see how many of their members are using reciprocal access, how many guests they are receiving in return and whether the balance between clubs is being maintained over time. This is not just useful data — it is the foundation of a healthy, sustainable network.
For club managers and secretaries, this means full visibility. For members, it means a seamless digital experience: a tee-time request generates a verified digital introduction letter, the home club approves it, and the host club receives everything it needs. The entire process, from request to visit, happens on the platform.
More than a network
Alongside the core platform, The Centenary serves as a knowledge resource for anyone with a serious interest in the history of golf. The database of more than 1,800 clubs founded before 1926 — the most comprehensive of its kind — drives an interactive world map and informs the regular articles published in Blog & Insights. The Centenary Verified Badge, an independently issued digital seal confirming a club's founding year, is available to any qualifying club that wishes to display its heritage with confidence.
These are not peripheral features. They reflect the same belief that runs through everything The Centenary does: that the history of this game deserves to be documented properly, and that the clubs carrying that history deserve recognition.
An invitation to founding clubs
The Centenary is now actively approaching clubs that meet the founding criteria. Club managers and secretaries who believe their club belongs in the founding network are encouraged to make contact. The process is transparent, the criteria are published and the ambition is clear.
Visit www.thecentenary.co.uk to explore the platform and the ranking methodology, or contact us directly through the website.
About The Centenary
The Centenary is a non-profit platform founded by Jeroen Korving and Leonard van Nunen. Its mission is to connect the world's finest historic golf clubs through a curated, fully digital network for reciprocal play — built around transparency, balance and a genuine respect for the traditions of the game. The platform also maintains the world's most comprehensive database of clubs founded 100 or more years ago, and issues the Centenary Verified Badge to clubs whose founding year has been independently confirmed.