[David_Tepper]

https://www.northern-times.co.uk/news/international-support-props-up-sutherland-golf-course-after-pandemic-plunged-it-into-financial-black-hole-195692/

[ChipRoyce]

Thinking about buying the life membership for my 17 y.o. son.

That way he'll have the ability to use for rest of his life, and figure he'll likely not go there without me in tow as his guest during my lifetime.

[Thomas Dai]

I’m curious as to why there is a necessity for funds now? Why not last year or the year before? What has happened specifically this year, virus apart, that means they need the money now? Other clubs in that area will have virus related shortfalls too but they don’t seem to be asking for help?
Thoughts/answers?

Atb

[Mark Pearce]

I’m curious as to why there is a necessity for funds now? Why not last year or the year before? What has happened specifically this year, virus apart, that means they need the money now? Other clubs in that area will have virus related shortfalls too but they don’t seem to be asking for help?
Thoughts/answers?

Atb

Loss of visitor income, Thomas.  Both green fees and in the pro shop.

[Joe Zucker]

I'm sure they have lost a lot of income, but why is Brora different from other clubs in the area?  I've never been to the highlands, but my understanding is that Brora is the second best course in the area.  For example, why do they need help and not Golspie (a few miles down the road)?  It seems like many club would have similar costs and similar shortfalls at this time.

[jeffwarne]

I'm guessing many/most clubs will need help.
They just were the first to appeal to social media.
I would be interested in paying it forward at remote clubs potentially cash strapped I have taken groups to in the past and hope to in the future.
A prepaid green fee for 8-something like that would no doubt help in the short run, with minimal impact on the clubs when the voucher is used

[Thomas Dai]

I’m curious as to why there is a necessity for funds now? Why not last year or the year before? What has happened specifically this year, virus apart, that means they need the money now? Other clubs in that area will have virus related shortfalls too but they don’t seem to be asking for help?
Thoughts/answers?
Atb

Loss of visitor income, Thomas.  Both green fees and in the pro shop.

But why Brora?
As Joe Z says, why not Golspie just down the road or Tain or Wick or Reay or Invergordon or Alness or Bonar Bridge or Helmsdale or Portmarhomac? Is it, as Jeff intimates, because Brora were the first to appeal on social media?
If so, and the others are in equal difficulty, shouldn't the others be getting some help too? Some piece of the 'help cake'.
Seems like there could be more behind the scenes on this one especially given that Brora, which don't get me wrong I happen to rather like, is the highest profile club in the area and probably gets the biggest slice of visitor cake income of any of the clubs in the region (RDGC apart).
atb

[Michael Whitaker]

But why Brora?
As Joe Z says, why not Golspie just down the road or Tain or Wick or Reay or Invergordon or Alness or Bonar Bridge or Helmsdale or Portmarhomac? Is it, as Jeff intimates, because Brora were the first to appeal on social media?
If so, and the others are in equal difficulty, shouldn't the others be getting some help too? Some piece of the 'help cake'.
Seems like there could be more behind the scenes on this one especially given that Brora, which don't get me wrong I happen to rather like, is the highest profile club in the area and probably gets the biggest slice of visitor cake income of any of the clubs in the region (RDGC apart).
atb

Because they asked! "The squeaky wheel gets the grease"

[Mark Pearce]

Also because Brora is probably more dependant on visitors than, say, Golspie.  There's a reason Brora has a pro-shop full of Mayhugh quality swag and Golspie barely has a pro-shop.  And, as Mike says, because they asked.

[Lou_Duran]

Don't know what the reference to Mayhugh means, but I like Brora a lot.  I think I will look into a membership though I have no idea when I would get there.  From what I read, the Carnegie Shield in early August could be at risk.

[Sean_A]

I’m curious as to why there is a necessity for funds now? Why not last year or the year before? What has happened specifically this year, virus apart, that means they need the money now? Other clubs in that area will have virus related shortfalls too but they don’t seem to be asking for help?
Thoughts/answers?
Atb

Loss of visitor income, Thomas.  Both green fees and in the pro shop.

But why Brora?
As Joe Z says, why not Golspie just down the road or Tain or Wick or Reay or Invergordon or Alness or Bonar Bridge or Helmsdale or Portmarhomac? Is it, as Jeff intimates, because Brora were the first to appeal on social media?
If so, and the others are in equal difficulty, shouldn't the others be getting some help too? Some piece of the 'help cake'.
Seems like there could be more behind the scenes on this one especially given that Brora, which don't get me wrong I happen to rather like, is the highest profile club in the area and probably gets the biggest slice of visitor cake income of any of the clubs in the region (RDGC apart).
atb

ATB

Yes, the club relies heavily on visitor's fees but it is because of this that more people know Brora and might be wiling to help. If visitors have a connection to the club, it's more likely they will open their wallets.

Ciao

[Thomas Dai]

I recall more than a few comments on threads suggesting that a private members club should never cut its cloth based on visitor income.
atb

[Jerry Kluger]

I can remember back a couple of years when Golspie put out a request for funds in order to purchase a new mower.

[Sean_A]

I recall more than a few comments on threads suggesting that a private members club should never cut its cloth based on visitor income.
atb

I guess digging for visitor cash is like a company going public. It creates opportunities for the club to prosper. Although, the issue isn't really about visitor fees. It's more about budget management which is likely difficult if a club cannot attract enough members to sustain itself reasonably well. I strongly suspect Brora is in this position without visitor fees. I would be surprised if they had what is ideally a full membership for quite modest yearly dues. If that is a reasonably long term trend then chasing visitor money strikes me as a sound club policy. Using social media to drum up members was a great idea. The club may well now have enough money to see out the year.

Ciao

[Tom_Doak]

I would be interested in paying it forward at remote clubs potentially cash strapped I have taken groups to in the past and hope to in the future.
A prepaid green fee for 8-something like that would no doubt help in the short run, with minimal impact on the clubs when the voucher is used

Jeff:


This is a lovely idea.  There are many businesses that need something like it, but I'm not seeing it so much . . . they are all asking for charity . . . or a $25 billion government bailout.  Americans are too used to having to be the squeaky wheel, because casual cruelty has been the order of the day for so long.


[I enjoyed the Twitter thread about Boeing recently, shaming them like so many shame the unemployed:  Why didn't you save up for a rainy day?  Maybe you should consider a second job, like driving for Uber?  If you hadn't bought a fancy phone/computer you could have put food on the table now!  etc.]


Like Thomas Dai and Joe Z, I have been seeing the charity auctions and the GoFundMe pages and thinking, why do these high-end places think they deserve help more than everywhere else? 


Isn't every golf course going to struggle right now?  Don't all their employees need some help?


Paying it forward is a great concept.  And members, of course, have to do the same to support their own clubs, even if they aren't allowed to play there for a while.


 

[Jon Wiggett]

Golspie has furloughed all of it's staff except the head greenkeeper who is looking after the course solo. They are topping the wage up to the 100% so hats off to them.

[Mark Pearce]

Golspie has furloughed all of it's staff except the head greenkeeper who is looking after the course solo. They are topping the wage up to the 100% so hats off to them.

Good for them and makes me even more determined to get back to Golspie soon.

[Joe_Tucholski]

I would be interested in paying it forward at remote clubs potentially cash strapped I have taken groups to in the past and hope to in the future.

I would guess there are a number of places doing this.  Carne is one that I have seen.


http://www.carnegolflinks.com/golf/ecom_v2/ecom.php?cat=102698

[David_Tepper]

Update here:

https://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2020/4/5/update-on-efforts-to-help-brora-links
 

[Jeff Schley]

Long live Brora and golfers are a loyal lot for the most part, especially when need arises. Whether it is charity outings, helping colleagues in the industry, or pitching in when others need help the feel good stories manifest when the opportunities exist such as this.
If any course wants to fully commercialize their coffers, just look at the Warren Course at Notre Dame.  As is the case with many universities (particularly private universities), they sell naming rights for every bench, hole, tree, or just about everything else there. Such is fundraising at private universities in the USA.  It is on full display at the Warren course.

[Michael Whitaker]

I would be interested in paying it forward at remote clubs potentially cash strapped I have taken groups to in the past and hope to in the future.
A prepaid green fee for 8-something like that would no doubt help in the short run, with minimal impact on the clubs when the voucher is used

This is a lovely idea.  There are many businesses that need something like it, but I'm not seeing it so much . . . they are all asking for charity . . . or a $25 billion government bailout.  Americans are too used to having to be the squeaky wheel, because casual cruelty has been the order of the day for so long.

It would nice if the Golf Highland group (https://golfhighland.com/) offered a voucher scheme that could be shared by all the participating courses.

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