SGU defends proposal to increase club charge

Published on Friday 20 November 2009 22:53

THE Scottish Golf Union has defended a proposal to increase the per capita levy on clubs by more than 40 per cent over the next three years, insisting the money raised is needed to ensure it supports the development of the game as well as allowing top amateurs to continue competing successfully on the world stage.

In a letter sent to golf clubs in Scotland, Douglas Connon, the SGU's chairman, has revealed that, following a review of the subscriptions the organisation receives from its affiliated clubs, a three-year plan has been put in place in a bid to counter a reduction in members.

This year has seen a fall of nearly three per cent in the number of male members at Scottish golf clubs and, with a further reduction being forecast in 2010, the SGU believes action needs to be taken.

There have already been redundancies at its St Andrews headquarters and other cost cutting implemented over the past few months has seen a 12 per cent saving being made on the original budget for this year.

Having studied the situation regarding the per capita levy in other golfing countries in Europe, the SGU has also decided to use its subscription charge to raise the money it needs to keep operating in its present form. It will rise from 7 to 8 next year, 9 in 2011 and 10 in 2012 – a total rise of 42 per cent.

"Our current per capita charge is used to determine what a club collectively is due to the Union and is the second lowest in Europe being well below the average cost of 22," said Connon. "It is the SGU Board's view that these per capita levels will allow the Union to maintain its operations at a minimum level in supporting the development of golf in Scotland as well as continue to compete successfully on the world stage."

Scotland are the current world champions, having won the Eisenhower Trophy in Australia last year, and Hamish Grey, the SGU chief executive, is keen to see the organisation being able to develop the game in this country as best it possibly can. "We have cut our cloth and will continue to do so," he said. "However, there is a limit to how much cloth you can cut before you are unable to deliver strategies."

COMPARISON

How Scotland compares (2009 per capita levels)

Country Male members, Sub

England 719,036, 4.50

France 239,961, 41.50

Ireland 192,000, 11.70

Italy 59,107, 54.10

Portugal 10,373, 43.30

Scotland 193,035, 7

Sweden 314,718, 16.30

Wales 48,653, 9.50