Hirsel gone

[Maninblack4612]

Seems a shame from a golfing perspective but I can see that from a farming logistical point of view with plenty of grass already there to graze on. Did the club rent from the estate? My own club has a 100 year lease from Crown Estates, technically HM, so I guess they could pull the plug at any time if they desired or whack our costs up to a prohibitive rate

Mate has relatives in Kelso. Has been the subject of chat locally for some time, apparently

 

[Lord Tyrion]

My mate, who is a Chartered Surveyor says that the Hirsel Estate, who are probably a creditor for rent, are going to put sheep on the land.

I didn't think that sheep made money any more. You put them on land that is worthless, moors, hills etc. Not a lovely parkland golf course. Holiday homes, glamping, houses etc, that I understand. Sheep, wow.

Also a crime, I'm a real fan of the place

 

[PaulMdj]

A cash injection could have saved them therefore they should trade as normal, same as any business in a similar situation.

Having never worked outside the Military, genuine question, surely then they’d of been better of delaying the decision until after today’s Open as they’d of had less people chasing for refund and a possible cash injection through bar/food etc.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Having never worked outside the Military, genuine question, surely then they’d of been better of delaying the decision until after today’s Open as they’d of had less people chasing for refund and a possible cash injection through bar/food etc.

There reaches a point where you are 'trading whilst insolvent'. This is an offence and would cause problems, legally, with any members of the committee. The reality is that the Open may have covered some costs but it would be a sticking plaster. If they are at the insolvency stage, the issue is bigger than £1-2k in open fees, bar income etc. Once you realise the trouble you are in, you have to get someone in, call a halt to matters. I suspect the insolvency company called the closure, it's a safety / legal measure.

They may well re-open, maybe try to trade through things, but that is done in a controlled, legal way. By doing this, the debts are frozen, the system takes over.

 

[Maninblack4612]

There reaches a point where you are 'trading whilst insolvent'. This is an offence and would cause problems, legally, with any members of the committee. The reality is that the Open may have covered some costs but it would be a sticking plaster. If they are at the insolvency stage, the issue is bigger than £1-2k in open fees, bar income etc. Once you realise the trouble you are in, you have to get someone in, call a halt to matters. I suspect the insolvency company called the closure, it's a safety / legal measure.

They may well re-open, maybe try to trade through things, but that is done in a controlled, legal way. By doing this, the debts are frozen, the system takes over.

They've gone bust, therefore forfeiting their lease & returning possession to the Hirsel Estate, who may well have provoked the situation with an increased rent demand.

 

[Val]

Having never worked outside the Military, genuine question, surely then they’d of been better of delaying the decision until after today’s Open as they’d of had less people chasing for refund and a possible cash injection through bar/food etc.

Possibly, the problem you have is that there’s never a good time. They may not have had money for wages, equipment etc to fund the open by paying everyone who needs paying. Entry fees won’t cover anywhere near what is required.

 

[Beezerk]

Just to put the area in to perspective, Hirsel GC is approx 15 miles from Goswick GC, Goswick is an Open Qualifier course in superb condition all year round, Full 7 day membership, £650.00.

There are affluent areas in the Borders, but very low populated and it has Golf Clubs everywhere, it is quite surprising how so many survive imo.

If you like links courses, personally I’d hate to play Goswick on a weekly basis, I’d probably rather pack in playing

 

[Val]

off topic but had the pleasure of playing Glenbervie as a guest in april last year, really enjoyed it

Glad you enjoyed it, it wouldn’t have been close to its best in April granted and well worth a summer visit if you can. Also happy to host you if we make dates etc work.

 

[Val]

If you like links courses, personally I’d hate to play Goswick on a weekly basis, I’d probably rather pack in playing

And in contrast, I’d happily play it every week as a member. I thought it a great course and fair test.

 

[3offTheTee]

They seem to have had since February 2024 when a Mark Cowan set up a new Company. Just conjecture but possibly tried to trade through the summer months and realised towards the end of the season that it was a lost cause.

As Lord T. States whilst an affluent area there are too many clubs in The Borders. I played with a great group of lads fro Galashiels, I think, earlier in the year. They had a 110 members I was told.

Tragic loss and so sorry

 

[PaulMdj]

Possibly, the problem you have is that there’s never a good time. They may not have had money for wages, equipment etc to fund the open by paying everyone who needs paying. Entry fees won’t cover anywhere near what is required.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

They seem to have had since February 2024 when a Mark Cowan set up a new Company. Just conjecture but possibly tried to trade through the summer months and realised towards the end of the season that it was a lost cause.

As Lord T. States whilst an affluent area there are too many clubs in The Borders. I played with a great group of lads fro Galashiels, I think, earlier in the year. They had a 110 members I was told.

Tragic loss and so sorry

Still seems sad that such an established club goes ahead of perhaps lesser known or clubs as old. I guess some of it must come down to the way it was run and overheads

 

[Golfnut1957]

They seem to have had since February 2024 when a Mark Cowan set up a new Company. Just conjecture but possibly tried to trade through the summer months and realised towards the end of the season that it was a lost cause.

As Lord T. States whilst an affluent area there are too many clubs in The Borders. I played with a great group of lads fro Galashiels, I think, earlier in the year. They had 110 members I was told.

Tragic loss and so sorry

The maintenance costs won't have been cheap, they never are with a course structured the way that was (trees, water etc) and if the figure of 110 members is correct it was never going to survive.

 

[3offTheTee]

The maintenance costs won't have been cheap, they never are with a course structured the way that was (trees, water etc) and if the figure of 110 members is correct it was never going to survive.

I was referring to Galashiels, not Hirsel. No idea of the membership numbers Hirsel had.

 

[Golfnut1957]

I was referring to Galashiels, not Hirsel. No idea of the membership numbers Hirsel had.

Has Galashiels closed completely? I was aware that it had gone to 9 holes a few years ago.

 

[3offTheTee]

Has Galashiels closed completely? I was aware that it had gone to 9 holes a few years ago.

No. Initially I was drawing a comparison of how some clubs exist with so few members

 

[Val]

Just read an article that suggested membership had dropped to 120 hence financial trouble

 

[rudebhoy]

Just read an article that suggested membership had dropped to 120 hence financial trouble

Yes, just read this.

Sudden closure of Scottish golf club caused by members leaving 'sinking ship'

Membership of once-popular Borders club had dropped to around just 120

www.scotsman.com

Quite a few local clubs posting on the Hirsel fb page, trying to hoover up the remaining members (honourable mention to Selkirk who have at least offered them free golf until next March).

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Yes, just read this.

Sudden closure of Scottish golf club caused by members leaving 'sinking ship'

Membership of once-popular Borders club had dropped to around just 120

www.scotsman.com

Quite a few local clubs posting on the Hirsel fb page, trying to hoover up the remaining members (honourable mention to Selkirk who have at least offered them free golf until next March).

You can't blame them to be honest. An extra 20-30 members may take a club from making a loss to breaking even/making a small profit.

Still can't get over the low membership numbers . I played there in an open in July and the course was in great condition, clubhouse was good, enough staff, staff were friendly. Nothing that screamed, 'don't join here'. It would be interesting to hear a members view, did membership plummet because of the wet winter / spring or is there another underlying reason?

 

[Springveldt]

You can't blame them to be honest. An extra 20-30 members may take a club from making a loss to breaking even/making a small profit.

Still can't get over the low membership numbers . I played there in an open in July and the course was in great condition, clubhouse was good, enough staff, staff were friendly. Nothing that screamed, 'don't join here'. It would be interesting to hear a members view, did membership plummet because of the wet winter / spring or is there another underlying reason?

At the last census Coldstream had a population of 2,080 and it's surrounded by fields so I'm not surprised the membership is low.