BRORA

[David_Tepper]

Wayne Kozun -

The population of Sutherland County in the census of 1850 (or maybe it was 1860 ) was roughly 25,000. The most recent census put Sutherland's population at 18,000 or so.

There is one traffic stop light in the entire county!

DT 

[Niall C]

David - so visitor revenue is rising at Brora but they can still take more members?

 Niall - of course members wouldn't leave to play CS, but CS could be taking vital visitor income, thereby forcing a club to take more members.

Mark

I suspect there has been a spin off for local courses to Castle Stuart but mainly from UK golfers on a weekend trip. The overseas visitors don't tend to stick arouind and move on to the next championship course rather than stopping off to play the likes of Hopeman or Forres. Over all clubs are struggling to get any income they can.

Niall

[Niall C]

I guess I never fully appreciated the tenuous existence of remote golf in Scotland.  I just took it for granted that these clubs are well supported. 

Sean

The clubs are well supported from the members they have. There just isn't a lot of members therefore clubs have to cut there cloth to suit. As an example, Keith GC, which is no great shakes (a farmers field really) has a membership of less than 150. They partly own the course and rent the rest from the Council at a rent of several thousand pa. They have one greenkeeper and a guy who works part time during the summer. They have a good basic clubhouse and make a bit of money from beer sales.

There never going to compete with Castle Stuart but they keep golf going up in this neck of the woods.

BTW, Moray which is one of the premier clubs in the area has 6 greenkeepers to keep two courses. I suspect your average heathland club round London has more than that for one course.

Niall

[David_Tepper]

It should also be noted the neither Tain nor Golspie currently have a joining fee for new members.

[James Boon]

Sean,

I knew golf in the Highlands was cheap but having just checked the website I'm almost speechless! With Country membership at £255, I suspect that my recent decision to not have a country membership at present may have been a little hasty...

There is one traffic stop light in the entire county!

David,

I thought you might be going mad when you said that but having wracked my brain, I can actually only think of a pedestrian crossing in the centre of Golspie on the A9??? Considering I've stood in the middle of the A9 at Helmsdale at what would be considered rush hour anywhere else and marvelled at the quiet, its not surprising!

Cheers,

James

[David_Tepper]

"I thought you might be going mad when you said that but having wracked my brain, I can actually only think of a pedestrian crossing in the centre of Golspie on the A9???"


James B. -

Yes, that's the one!

DT