[Brian_Ewen]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/golf/article3378801.ece

[Melvyn Morrow]

Ralph Thompson, The Chairman of Askernish Golf Club has faced
problems from the Crofters, well actually just a few from the start. These
few, for reasons of their own have tried to stop the reconstruction of the course, stating that they do not believe Old Tom was the original designer.

In support, Ralph had a copy of an article from Golf on page 382 dated August 21 1891 and Alfie Ward & myself found and passed on the article
from the Golfers Guide circa 1895/6 pages 177/8 confirming Old Tom connection. I was also able to trace the path of Old Tom and Horace Hutchinson when they visited the Outer Hebrides in 1891 – after laying out the course at Askernish they proceed north to Stornoway to inspect the course recently opened prior to returning to the mainland. Thanks to Dick Harris and his article in Golf Magazine some years ago, titled ‘Following the Ghost of Tom Morris’ I was able to trace their visit and found the photographs they each left of themselves at Stornoway Golf Club. The Club framed and glazed the
pictures and very kindly agreed to copy these photos for me, but did not
want to disturb the glazed frame, hence the slightly distorted pictures on Askernish web site.

If you feel that you can spare a few minutes of your time, a letter of
support/interest could be sent to Ralph Thompson c/o Askernish Golf Club, Askernish, Isle of South Uist, Outer Hebrides, Scotland HS8 5SS. Their
e-mail address is info@askernishgolfclub.com . It may help strengthen their resolve and encourage the Islanders to realising that they are not alone in their wish to re-open the old course which pre-dates the Crofters claim based upon the date of 1922.

This is not an official request from the club, but from one of your new members. 

[Tom_Doak]

I'm curious how the club calculated that they will soon be generating a million pounds a year for the local economy.  Two thousand rounds times 500 quid per visitor?  I'm sure it will make a positive impact, but I doubt it will be that much.

[Bill_McBride]

They could be thinking overall impact including economic development's standard use of a multiplier.

For example -

500 overseas members at 125 pounds

10,000 rounds at 20 pounds

A hotel that books 5,000 rooms nights at 75 pounds

Three new restaurants at 15,000 meals at 30 pounds

Employees for the above plus golf course employees

More service establishments required for those employees, resulting in yet more employment

Multiplier of the added salaries for support in the economy

Add all that up and in five years, assuming successful operation, could result in an annual millions pounds turnover in the overall economy

It's a stretch but easier to understand that way.  Certainly the club itself couldn't be able to generate a million on its own.

[Tom_Doak]

Bill:

I figured it was an "overall economy" number but I wondered how they justified it.  The people who are likely to make the trip to South Uist are not going to be the big spenders, they're going to be the ones looking for a bargain.  The big spenders (if any come) will contribute more to the helicopter economy which isn't based in South Uist.

[Bill_McBride]

That's why the green fees are 20 quid and the hotel rooms 75 quid! 

Economic development people tend to move around because sometimes their forecasts are pretty optimistic.  But I don't think $2 million a year is a lot if Askernish becomes a mecca like Macrahanish.  What do you think that course generates for that remote island each year?  Not just the course but the overall economy?

Of course not everybody's nuts like the average GCAer and willing to make such an expedition. 

[Tom_Doak]

Bill:

I went out to Machrihanish with a couple of my associates and George Bahto last spring.  I do love the place, although I wish David Kidd had not grown up on the beach there and used that heartwarming story to ace me out of a couple of links jobs. 

Anyway, we stayed in a nice hotel halfway down the Mull of Kintyre, for about $100 each.  We had to refuel, and we paid our green fees.  We desperately tried to find a good dinner in Campbelltown but it proved impossible [I think it was Sunday night] -- we did wind up eating in a hotel restaurant which otherwise would have had ten customers that night, so we supported the local economy to the tune of about $200 each, including the golf.  At that rate it would take 10,000 visiting golfers to contribute $2 million to the local economy.  I don't think Machrihanish generates that many visitor rounds, and I am positive Askernish won't.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Tom , Bill

South Uist is not a rich island. Yes, I expect the 18 hole course will help, but like most things in life we will have to wait and see. Having said that golf has been played on the course either the later 9 hole or the original
18 since 1891 – its there for your enjoyment.

The attraction is to play real golf on a course that closely reflects Scottish Golf of the late 1800’s. The type of Golf that was exported all over the world.

The question is how many golfers are up to the challenge, that will ultimately decide if Askernish makes money or just remains as one of the best original courses in the world.

Its golf at its very, very best, thank God it is not always down to money alone. 

[Jason Hines]

Hello Melvyn,

I don’t think Tom and Bill are saying it should come down to money, I think they are debating the number the club itself is using as justification for fighting the Crofters.

It appears to me that the Crofters are hanging on to a thread. 

I am going to have to remember this one:

“If you were at the other end of the village giving away bars of gold they would be saying that they were too heavy and complaining about having to carry them home.”

[Melvyn Morrow]

Jason

Perhaps you have misunderstood my point. With support from those interested in playing Links golf the targets set are possible, as explained by Bill. 

I am not questioning Tom or Bill. My interest is Golf, Golf & Golf. 

I would love to see Askernish succeed and achieve even more income. 

As for the islanders, I believe you will enjoy your visit - as and when you feel like a real raw game of true golf!! 

[Jason Hines]

Count on it.

[Tom_Doak]

Melvyn:

I would love to see Askernish and I am a big fan of what they are doing.

I just hated to hear them trying to justify things by talking about money at all, and compounding the problem by exaggerating the money involved.  They should just say the course will be a great attraction for more people to come and see the natural beauty of the island.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Tom

I totally agree with you - could not have put it better.

I hope you will be able to visit the island on the 22nd Aug 08, subject to what action the Crofters may take, as it is the scheduled re-opening date.

Let me know and I will contact Ralph.

[Jason Hines]

Melvyn,

Do you know if there are any current pictures on the progress Gordon Irvine has been making?  I have seen the video from a year or two ago, but was curious as to what else they have done.

Jason

[Ville Nurmi]

Couldn´t you read the article also so that the course will promote 200.000 each year and it will add to 1 m in 5 years?
Maybe my english isn´t good enough, but I think so.
BR
Ville

[Melvyn Morrow]

Jason

My photos are from last year and taken by Martin Ebert of Mackensie & Ebert. Large file will try to download one photo for you.

[Rich Goodale]

Bill

Tom D is right.  Dornoch gets only a bit more than 10,000 visitor rounds/year, and a lot of those are day trippers.  Machirie, which is miles closer to the real world always seems to be struggling.  Askernish will be lucky to get a couple of thousand, and not many will stay for any length of time.

I do wish and hope all the best for them, but they'll need to keep their expectations very modest in order to not be disappointed.

[Bill_McBride]

I wasn't arguing one way or the other, just describing how economic development "experts" estimate the impact of something like a new golf course and the potential effect of the multiplier of related economic activity.

[Tom_Doak]

Rich:

Thanks for sharing the number on Dornoch, which I hadn't heard before.

If a course as good as Royal Dornoch only gets 10,000 visitor rounds per year, then you have to think most of these far-flung destination courses will have a hard time getting into the black.  It makes the number of rounds they play in Bandon seem positively astounding -- or maybe it re-emphasizes the importance of being within driving distance of Portland and Seattle and the relative lack of competition in those two cities.

[Brent Hutto]

It makes the number of rounds they play in Bandon seem positively astounding -- or maybe it re-emphasizes the importance of being within driving distance of Portland and Seattle and the relative lack of competition in those two cities.

I don't know what portion of rounds played at Bandon each year are golfers from as close as Portland or Seattle but I'd imagine if Bandon received only visitors who had to fly on a plane to get there it would still be a great success story. I think the "competition" for Bandon consists mostly of other destination resorts all over the USA. That said, for anyone who values walking and a "links" setting that comprises a surprisingly limited field of competitors.

In that sense Dornoch's "competition" is, for starters, every course on the current or recent past Open rota. And maybe I'm overlooking one or two but I believe every one of those is easier to travel to from the USA, England, Europe or for matter from most of Scotland. In fact, part of the qualification for being an Open course nowadays is ease of access and availability of accomodation.

In the USA, there are no concentrations of coastal major-championship venues accessible on a resort basis as there are Open courses in Scotland. Where exactly would a foursome of hard-core 36-hole-a-day walking golfers with no private-club connections travel for a 4-5 day vacation in the USA? There's Bandon, Kohler, the Pebble properties (sort of) Kiawah...and then the list trails off. How many besides Bandon have more than one (or more than two) world-class courses with a zillion media mentions per year?

[Melvyn Morrow]

I agree with Tom that projecting financial income is not as constructive as selling the concept of the true links course and its attraction to those who yearn to play on real courses. It was a pity that a figure of £1million was mention, even though it was to be generated over 5 years. However to dismiss it out of hand is also not acceptable – correct me if I am wrong,
but we were not party to the original brief, current or on going plans, sponsorship deals, perhaps even lottery funding for future projects – in short we just don’t know.

What actually surprises me is that we are not discussing how we may be
able to help or assist. Sorry, but Scottish golf is more than Royal Dornoch even though it is a great course. I should know, Old Tom helped establish
it, but if it is as great as most of you say, you would never get to play on it because it would be full of home players.

Reading current and past articles & threads, I quickly understood the depth
of interest and knowledge at GCA – clearly a deep passion for the game.
 
Perhaps I saw more passion than was actually there. But then everyone has a right to their opinion. Certainly feel like a lone voice in the wilderness.

[Forrest Richardson]

I am looking forward to visiting Askernish in late March when a few of us from the ASGCA meeting will go over and tour the course. When one considers the potential for visitors who will have nothing to do but sightsee and play golf, I am comfortable with the estimates. Besides, they are just that, estimates.

[Gary Daughters]

Melvyn,

How might one envision a tour that would include Askernish? 

Just eyeballing the idea, let's say 10 days in Scotland.  2 or 3 on the island.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Gary

I am at the early stages of trying to form The Old Tom Morris Golfing Association from the clubs that have a connection with Old Tom. The idea being to encourage club members to play at each others course, to take their families or partners with them. Whilst the golfer is enjoying his new experience, the non players would have sites and venues to keep them happily occupied. If this is successful then specific tours may be offered to other home clubs/golfers not associated to Old Tom. As for Askernish, I have already had discussions with members from various clubs regards visiting.  I have been advised that most of those clubs have groups of 4 to 6 plus partners that would like to travel to South Uist. The numbers suggested passed 50 rather quicklyfrom just a few clubs, so when Askernish formally opens, there will be some home grown interest. If the initial groups enjoy themselves I expect word to spread within each club persuading more to follow – but still very early days

Regards your comments about a tour, Askernish would have to be a spin off, from a standard tour, which I believe some tour operators are already considering.

[Brian_Ewen]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/golf/article3606997.ece

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