Club closing - change ahead

Canfordhacker

Canfordhacker

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Take it as a given that I feel for all the hard working and committed staff who will lose their jobs.

Letters received today announcing closure of our 45 hole golf complex on 31st March 2016, citing profitability issues. For our group of 16 regulars it's gonna be a massive upheaval and could split what has become a massive part of my weekly life over the last 10 years. 1,100 golfers flooding the market locally, so might be difficult to get in some clubs even.

A lot of unhappy golfers here in Dorset today.
 
Really surprised at this news, last I heard it was making enough money to subsidise Remedy Oak (same owner) which apparently isn't making any money yet. Good luck sorting out a new club :thup:
 
Canfordhacker said:
Take it as a given that I feel for all the hard working and committed staff who will lose their jobs.

Letters received today announcing closure of our 45 hole golf complex on 31st March 2016, citing profitability issues. For our group of 16 regulars it's gonna be a massive upheaval and could split what has become a massive part of my weekly life over the last 10 years. 1,100 golfers flooding the market locally, so might be difficult to get in some clubs even.

A lot of unhappy golfers here in Dorset today.
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I don't know the course personally but that's quite shocking bearing in mind you have 1100 members.
 
drive4show said:
Really surprised at this news, last I heard it was making enough money to subsidise Remedy Oak (same owner) which apparently isn't making any money yet. Good luck sorting out a new club :thup:
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Lots of other rumours as to reasons amongst members, but not for publishing here
 
A shame and its happening quite a lot at the minute. Just read about another club closing in the thread above this and Bradley Park near me has a fight on its hands as its recently been earmarked by the local council for housing development. It is a muni but a very decent one.

Golf and golf clubs need to wise up but is there the will and desire for change?
 
Perhaps brutal but maybe some of these clubs need to go so that the members can be spread around other clubs making them stronger. No dig at any club as I don't know any of those mentioned but most clubs are short of members and one club in an area closing may help the others.
 
Mastercracker said:
A shame and its happening quite a lot at the minute. Just read about another club closing in the thread above this and Bradley Park near me has a fight on its hands as its recently been earmarked by the local council for housing development. It is a muni but a very decent one.

Golf and golf clubs need to wise up but is there the will and desire for change?
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I think the more progressive ones are wising up.To me it will be the middling ones that are not in the top class 'must join/play' category, but seem to think they are, will be the ones that struggle the most.

I know of one club near me, decent track but it is hemorrhaging members with none joining to replace them. And the club still seems to be run as if it is the 90s, where golf clubs were full, joining the club was an honour and waiting lists existed. But in the real world it being run by the members for the members, trouble is the members are an ever more shrinking breed there. It is sad to see as it is only going one way if it doesn't do something soon to revive itself, but I suppose it's the survival of the fittest.
 
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The trouble is, that building houses on golf courses is so profitable that there is hardly a club in the land that would not generate more cash by selling up and building over it.

Planning permission is always negotiable with local politicians.

In fact, the madness of our current economy is that pretty much the only thing that makes money apart from financial jiggery-pokery is importing people and building houses to put them in. Not such a healthy model for a happy and sustainable economic and social future.
 
I learn to play golf there in 1997 , Watch the club grow up , its a busy place and when the owner Harding passed away his partner decided to sell , got planning for 240 houses , I heard this from an ex Remedy member last week , I was thinking it was just a story but thats not the case after the meeting yesterday , with regards to Remedy , got 2 friends who are members there , £2500 green fees a year , next year its going up by £750 to £3250 a year , its a ok course but thats it really , make my eyes water those green fees ...............EYG
 
Yes, AGM will be interesting next week.

Over the last couple of years they have invested several hundred thousand pounds, and the course is actually in the best nick it has ever been during my 10+ years here. And whilst there is also a far better feeling about the place (camaraderie wise amongst the members) I have always felt it was a business first and foremost rather than a golf club.
 
Canfordhacker said:
Yes, AGM will be interesting next week.

Over the last couple of years they have invested several hundred thousand pounds, and the course is actually in the best nick it has ever been during my 10+ years here. And whilst there is also a far better feeling about the place (camaraderie wise amongst the members) I have always felt it was a business first and foremost rather than a golf club.
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Its a sad day but it not make a difference what is said at the AGM , money talks and he get more money selling it for housing and no worries after ....................he can`t of course build on the river course as it floods there , but members won`t want that ..............EYG
 
JCW said:
Its a sad day but it not make a difference what is said at the AGM , money talks and he get more money selling it for housing and no worries after ....................he can`t of course build on the river course as it floods there , but members won`t want that ..............EYG
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JCW - Correct, it won't make a difference what is said, but it will be interesting to hear because there is a huge difference between what is said in the letters we received and what a lot of people believe is really going on, as you hint at in your post. And yes, I'd leave anyway if we were only left with the Riverside - Parkland is the better and more challenging course.
 
Shame that another course is being sold for development. Lost Botley Park for the same reason earlier on in the year. Just hope that yourself and your group can get settled at another club. Played there a few times again this year and never thought that the club would close, but and the end of the day's money talks.
 
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