Peter Button has left East Sussex National Golf Club.

Button, originally chief executive and later chairman, successfully negotiated the purchase and saw it through the first year under new ownership, His role from the beginning as a member of the independent business consultancy, Franklin, Williams and Foy, based in London, was to ensure a smooth takeover from the Kuwaiti Investment Office who sold out for around £9m.

The 1,100-acre complex at Little Horsted changed hands last March.

Button's brief together with two other operating directors, Richard Archer an architect and Brian Street, was to re-invigorate an exciting new project.

Initially it was not easy and difficult decisions had to be made. A year ago Phil Lewin, director of golf, left by mutual agreement and in December Ian Naylor and David Strachan, the remaining professionals, were made redundant.

Next came the severance of the franchise agreement with the David Leadbetter organisation which enjoyed sole teaching rights.

The wettest winter on record hit ESN hard.

There was scarcely a day when golf was possible on either the west or east courses. But now things are looking up and Archer said: "Peter Button has gone and he will not be replaced.

From the beginning it was clearly understood his role, and that of his company, was to secure the club for the new owners and run it for a year."

That leaves Archer and Street as the operating directors and applicants are being interviewed for the position of events organiser.

The vacancy has been created by the resignation of Tom Hilton after seven years in the job. Tom, a member at Lewes, has joined the Euro-Pro Tour which is owned by Barry Hearn's Matchroom Group.

Until now the identity of ESN's new owners has remained a mystery. But staff have been told that the key figure is millionaire Michael Hunt.