Reemul
Head Pro
This really.
Another Golf Club Closure
- Thread starter badger57
- Start date
This really.
duncan mackie
Money List Winner
Whilst I understand that logic this incidence isn't about profitability - the complex can easily be profitable but they want to sell it off for short term cash, and to ease their difficult decisions about additional future housing delivery for government quota.
You will also find that a 9 hole complex will cost way over 50% of the maintenance of an 18 - many fixed costs such as car park, clubhouse, core staffing, equipment (you might save on a couple of mowers and their maintenance) but will need at least one of everything you already have. The other issue is that houses and golf don't mix well - you would need a significant barrier of ground that couldn't be developed and would need to be maintained (lower cost obviously). You are normally going to have a lower income level as well.
Whilst for some of these it's profitability, they are the minority down South; the fundamental is planning and housing whichncompletely distorts things.
badger57
Assistant Pro
I'm sorry to go against the fold, but if something is losing circa £200k pa then it's time to put it to bed as that revenue can be used more wisely elsewhere!
Oddsocks
Ryder Cup Winner
Unfortunately Duncan is right regarding southern closures. Tandridge council did not hit their quota of new homes for 2016 and as such are in talks with a developer for the Surrey National site in caterham. A pretty nice private course with a strong membership, two short game area’s, a range and indoor studio with trackman. But!!!!!!!
It’s inside the m25 and 15mins walk to the nearest train station. This station is inside zone 6 so london city travel is cheaper, it’s on the knuckle of the m25 so access to m20, m2, m23, m3 and many large inner city towns is fantastic, but what’s more is it is generally a more expensive area of the south east to live in. The council could have gone anywhere along the a22, a25 corridor but it’s more appealing to a developer if the return is greater.
Rumours are it sold for over double it’s true value, as an owner of 5 clubs two of which are within 3 miles as the crow flies, the other 2 including the addington within 30 mins .... why wouldn’t you sell.
1600 houses with a primary school and medical centre will also be going in.
chrisd
Major Champion
I used to visit Deangate, sit and have a coffee and watch golfers teeing off and putting out before I even started playing the game, the clubhouse was close to my workplace and was a great place for a break from work. Sad that they are trying to close it, and so, another amenity gone
I've signed the petition
I've signed the petition
duncan mackie
Money List Winner
Easiest thing in the world to make something lose money - it has been happening all the time around here to get change of use planning approval for the last 30 years.
Your argument is also flawed as it inherently requires a council to make the most money from any asset it can - which is inconsistent with their wider remit.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
I'm not sure that you can assign 'blame' to private and members clubs for making their golf cheaper and so competitive with muni rates.
That said I'd be gutted were Deaconsbank GC to close - it's where I started playing and where the auld guys used to tell me to hurry up; what to do; where to stand (HNSP); where no to stand; and to encourage me as I struggled with my mixed bag of this and that - playing whatever ball I could find.
Bearing in mind I'm going back to the early 1970s and these auld fellas would have been in their 60s and over - if they'd started as kids or teenagers they'd would have been playing back in the days of Vardon , Taylor and Braid - and so were a direct link back to golf and etiquette of the turn of the century.
Great little track is Deaconsbank (a James Braid course) ..
Long may it thrive and survive.
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badger57
Assistant Pro
stefanovic
Medal Winner
OnTour
Head Pro
That was Forest Hill I believe, but it's fallen through and a lot have left as the owner is keen to sell it fast and it's in poor condition.
D
Deleted member 18588
Guest
No it's Park Hill that Leicester City have acquired and are planning to turn it into their Training Ground and Academy HQ.
Crazyface
Tour Winner
After last nights, very informative meeting, we're not doing very well at all.
Grant85
Head Pro
This is unlikely to be a problem that will get better before it gets worse.
Golf for some is simply too big a commitment and even those who can afford to play can’t commit the time to playing (& practicing) even once a week.
there are potentially things that can be done (that a business would do).
Merging of clubs. Let’s say an area is served by 4 clubs, 1 or 2of which are on the breadline. A better business model would be a single club with 2courses and much larger facilities. With land & buildings of other sites sold or rented. Clearly many have an emotional attachment to their club & wouldn’t wish to see the land sold off, even if it meant a better course, better facilities and cheaper fees. But a business making the decision would do it... adapt and thrive.
in actual fact this may be notionally happening in areas with clubs closing and the clubs nearby will pick up quite a few members.
points based memberships. You pay a much more reduced annual fee for x no. of points that are used for rounds at peak / off peak etc. and then potentially pay an extra few quid to play when you run out of points. Financial commitment is more in line with how often you play.
9 HOLE MEDALS. Such a simple idea, turn up, play 9 holes in under 2hours and get on with your day. This should be automatic at clubs, especially those that don’t have 18 holes (or have shared fairways / greens etc).
Golf for some is simply too big a commitment and even those who can afford to play can’t commit the time to playing (& practicing) even once a week.
there are potentially things that can be done (that a business would do).
Merging of clubs. Let’s say an area is served by 4 clubs, 1 or 2of which are on the breadline. A better business model would be a single club with 2courses and much larger facilities. With land & buildings of other sites sold or rented. Clearly many have an emotional attachment to their club & wouldn’t wish to see the land sold off, even if it meant a better course, better facilities and cheaper fees. But a business making the decision would do it... adapt and thrive.
in actual fact this may be notionally happening in areas with clubs closing and the clubs nearby will pick up quite a few members.
points based memberships. You pay a much more reduced annual fee for x no. of points that are used for rounds at peak / off peak etc. and then potentially pay an extra few quid to play when you run out of points. Financial commitment is more in line with how often you play.
9 HOLE MEDALS. Such a simple idea, turn up, play 9 holes in under 2hours and get on with your day. This should be automatic at clubs, especially those that don’t have 18 holes (or have shared fairways / greens etc).
Are you in a position to expand?
