Threat of Scottish golf clubs going to wall is a 'real possibility'

THE prospect of some Scottish golf clubs going out of business has been described as a "real possibility" due to a combination of decreasing memberships and lost revenue because of bad weather.

Hamish Grey, the chief executive of the Scottish Golf Union, has praised clubs for responding to the challenges facing them by showing "greater innovation and flexibility" in terms of membership and how they are operating.

However, speaking ahead of tomorrow's annual meeting of the amateur game's governing body in Scotland, he acknowledged the difficulties being faced by some clubs, a situation he says has partly been created by too many courses having been built in the home of golf over the past two decades.

"We talk a lot about elite golf but for the SGU the major issue is membership and that's a combination of over-supply - we've had a 20 per cent growth in golf courses in the last 20 years - and before the recession just a five per cent growth in membership so the membership has been spread more thinly," said Grey.

"Now we've lost that growth in the last four to five years with a six per cent drop in membership. There's presently more facilities than there is demand, and obviously the economy comes into that, as well as the weather. This is the second year in a row that clubhouses have been quiet in the winter which is not helpful on top of everything else. Increasing rainfall as well, and it all combines to make for difficult times, not impossible."

Overall, membership of Scottish clubs dropped by two per cent last year for adult males and just over four per cent for females. "That's less than we anticipated. We thought there would be a lag effect and a greater drop," added Grey. "Thirty six per cent of our clubs actually increased membership and ten per cent of them by more than 10 per cent of membership. We'd like to think our 'Golf Club Awareness Week' has contributed but a lot of that is innovation and attitude of clubs themselves.

"They are looking to engage in different ways and be flexible. We've found that people still want to join golf clubs. That's our continuing challenge of helping clubs and keeping them as healthy and vibrant as they have been in Scotland for so long."

The Machrie Hotel and Golf Links on Islay has just gone into administration and, though that may be a different operation to a normal golf club, Grey admitted it might only be a matter of time before one or more are in the same position.

"A number of clubs are feeling the pinch. None have been forced to the wall so far but that's not to say there won't be. There's a real possibility of it happening is the best way to put it but its factors are out of everyone's control, the economy and the weather."

While a proposed amalgamation with the Scottish Ladies Golf Association will be the hottest topic at tomorrow's meeting at Tulliallan, Grey revealed that a decision is likely to be made soon about the players who will receive the first chunk of government money to help them with the transition from amateur to professional golf. sportscotland, in conjunction with the Scottish Government and the National Lottery, is providing 1m to provide support in this respect over the next five years, with Graeme Simmers chairing a board that has been set up to decide who should get the money.

"It's for Graeme Simmers to say, but there is a meeting on 24 January and we'll agree all the timelines then and be in touch," said Grey. "Papers are waiting to go to the board, it's not just us but all the partners taking it forward. We're all excited about it.

"Three-year support is what we're looking at, some will need less, some more. We can get started on those who meet minimum requirements and by year three we'll have a full contingent."