Is there any update on the rebunkering? I just took the aerial tour and I rather liked what is there. Simple shapes nicely tilted or built into connected slopes; not fussy or overbearing
Hang on...they went from “oh we are about to close the club and we need donations!!!” to bunker renovation?? What the hell? Did someone gift them a million dollars? Sounds like a scam
A million? I think they’re spending about twenty thousand pounds on the bunker work
So they’re renovating a couple
bunkers in the same breath as needing money to avoid closure? Please tell me that you see how that doesn’t jive. If you’re doors are about to close, you don’t go out and spend money on a bunker renovation especially if the club is throwing
out the idea that there is no money.
There was no money.
In April last year the club was literally a month or two away from insolvency. Cavendish has a small membership and relies for half its income on visitor revenue. This income was abruptly cut off just as last season was getting under way with no indication of when it might return. With no reserves and significant debt the risks of Cavendish going out of business were real and imminent.
An entirely new management board of members took over and brought new skill sets to the table. Among these was experience and expertise in fund raising and so the appeal was launched. The money raised stabilised the club’s finances by making up the lost visitor revenue and allowed the club to carry on maintaining the course even while it was closed due to government regulations.
What no-one could have foreseen was the huge boom that golf experienced last summer when lockdown rules were relaxed. Golf clubs across the country saw a big rise in visitor income and an influx of new members. Cavendish benefitted more than most - due in no small part to the publicity gained via the fund raising appeal.
The work done over the winter on restoration of the bunkers on six holes has long been planned as part of the club’s centenary project in the build up to the 100th anniversary of the course opening in 2025. Ironically the Covid pandemic has enabled the club to finance these much needed improvements via the “bounce back loan” received via a government scheme at a negligible rate of interest.
It is hoped that continued growth in income will allow the club to restore the bunkers and make general improvements to the rest of the course over the next two years.
The club will be eternally grateful to all those who helped at a moment of crisis and made survival possible. No-one knew in those dark days of a year ago what the future held but it certainly looked bleak for our golf club. A year on it looks a lot brighter and Cavendish looks forward to welcoming all those who contributed to the appeal - largely through the advance purchase of green fees at discounted rates.
Strict financial controls have been put in place by the new management board and the club is now profitable after making losses for many years. Those who helped out can be assured that their money is being put to good use - investing in our magnificent golf course.