Player power is big success for Letham Grange club

JUST under a year after fearing they’d become golfing nomads as the doors slammed shut at Letham Grange, a decision by members to take over the running of the two courses at the Angus venue is proving hugely successful.

A membership target of 300 this year was exceeded by more than 200 and now the members have been given the go-ahead to continue operating the courses until March 2013.

“It has been an amazing success,” said club captain Nick Jackson of a venture that was launched in the wake of the facility near Arbroath going into liquidation due to a long- running saga over disputed ownership.

The complex legal tussle, which involves Dong Guang Lie, a Taiwanese businessman, and the directors of Letham Grange Management Company Ltd, put the future of the resort under threat.

That has still to be resolved but, in the year it celebrated its 25th aniversary, the golf club members took on the running of the courses and managed to get them open again for the start of the season.

“Only some wet weather got in our way, otherwise we had a enormous amount of support and backing,” added Jackson. “The management team, volunteers, sponsors, membership and visitors have all been great and the greenkeeping staff have worked wonders.

“Some of the Letham Grange residents contributed financially and we sought every opportunity we could think of to raise funds. Our budget and operating plan (which was based on a membership of 250 and a skeleton greenkeeping staff) worked. We are financially stable and able to meet all of our commitments, including some significant improvements to the drainage of both courses.”

The courses have staged a number of leading amateur and professional events over the years, including the Scottish Stroke Play Championship in 2000.

“We hoped we might be able to stretch the membership beyond the 300 mark but over 500 is far beyond our expectations,” added Jackson. “We are now looking to do the same again in 2012, bring in more members and have another great golfing year. We don’t know what the future will bring – it is in the hands of the courts – but whoever eventually takes over will find two great golf courses and a large, enthusiastic membership.”