The End Of An Era At Brora?

[Tony_Muldoon]

This is more about how the club acquired the land.


https://www.bunkered.co.uk/golf-news/brora-golf-club-secures-historic-purchase-of-golf-course/0

ie after the Covid induced panic.

[Niall C]

So Brora was looking for financial support because it was struggling, and that was around about the time it bought the land the course sits on ? Hmmm...


Niall

Niall,


To what level are you aware of the sequence of events from March 2020 onward at Brora? The global call for support was swift and aggressive. It seems that support was so large that the club turned from dire straights rather quickly.

https://www.thegolfbusiness.co.uk/2020/06/our-future-is-now-secure/

Ben


You are correct to detect a degree of cynicism in my post and I suspect you correctly surmised I did not know of the exact timings of events at Brora when I posted, however, from the articles that you and Tony have provided links to I note the club went from supposedly a position of being about to fold to buying the course in under 12 months. And that's while the effects of the pandemic was still playing out. I have to say my cynicism remains but good luck to them.


As for the hundreds of other clubs in Scotland that weren't as well off as Brora to start with but who still managed to get through COVID without the benefit of a world wide fundraising campaign, hats off to them.


Niall

[Ben Sims]

So Brora was looking for financial support because it was struggling, and that was around about the time it bought the land the course sits on ? Hmmm...


Niall

Niall,


To what level are you aware of the sequence of events from March 2020 onward at Brora? The global call for support was swift and aggressive. It seems that support was so large that the club turned from dire straights rather quickly.

https://www.thegolfbusiness.co.uk/2020/06/our-future-is-now-secure/

Ben


You are correct to detect a degree of cynicism in my post and I suspect you correctly surmised I did not know of the exact timings of events at Brora when I posted, however, from the articles that you and Tony have provided links to I note the club went from supposedly a position of being about to fold to buying the course in under 12 months. And that's while the effects of the pandemic was still playing out. I have to say my cynicism remains but good luck to them.


As for the hundreds of other clubs in Scotland that weren't as well off as Brora to start with but who still managed to get through COVID without the benefit of a world wide fundraising campaign, hats off to them.


Niall

Niall,


It’s a banner moment around here when anyone changes a position or their skepticism wanes. That’s fine. I just wanted to provide you with a proper timeline.


As for those other clubs, I’m not sure global support for places like Brora is a reason to cast a withering glance northward. Let’s not go “tall poppy” on Brora.

[James Boon]

I’ll start with a question: How many of you who love Brora, have regularly been the first player out (as I have), and caught up the greenstaff to see what they have to do before the main body of golfers come through later that day...
 
I've been playing Brora for around 35 years, and I've been a member for several years now, all be it a country member so I'm not as up to speed as some and wasn’t able to vote on the matter. Many years ago, I recall playing the course and no matter where your ball was, rough or fairway, there was a chance it would be nestling up against one of the local sheep's calling cards. Suitable local rules were in play regarding taking relief. Interestingly, I don’t recall there being many cows back then?
 
However these days, with the higher green fees, and what feels like a lot more visitors, when I play you hardly see any excrement from sheep or cattle... AND THAT’S BECAUSE the greenstaff who are out early when I often am, are literally shoveling it off the fairways to keep things clear for the players coming through later. It doesnt exactly look a fun job and having spoken to a few of them it clearly isnt...
 
So I understand why the staff and those that play regular, may prefer it without the livestock.
 
Additionally, the greenstaff out early will often be repairing the damage the cattle have made to various cut grass areas and edges of bunkers, as well as the erosion along the edges of the 2 burns that run across the course that either need repairing, or essentially mean the width of the water hazard increases. Again I suspect much of this work goes un-noticed by later visitors.
 
Therefore, I wasn’t too surprised when I received an email a few days ago confirming that the voting members (I cant vote as a country member) had passed the resolution to seek permission to have the cattle removed. Essentially it appears to mean applying to the government to have crofting rights removed as well as agreeing compensation for those that have those rights, so probably not an overnight job!
 
I also understand that in the early 2000s the membership voted to do similar, but it was never followed through for some reason…
 
The sheep and electric fences have always been there for me, and have certainly been part of the character, and spirit of place if you like, of a course I love. But in recent years, playing early and seeing what needs to be done, I suspect I would have voted as the other members did if I could have. It will be a shame to see some of the sheep go, but I wont miss the cows!
 
Having said all that, there can be a place for livestock, certainly sheep, on a course. I have had several discussions with the greenstaff at my other course Hollinwell, a heathland course, about the benefits of sheep. We have them away from the playing surface and they do a great job helping the heather and heathland habitat to be maintained. We have discussed bringing the sheep closer to the main playing areas, and the few times we have, they have proven excellent at rough management, but I suspect most members wouldnt go for it on a more permanent basis.

[JohnVDB]

Exactly how many cows are there?

I think the number of coos on the course has increased of the last few years.  I e seen as many as 15-20 out there at times.


To echo some of James’ comments, I walked up to the 11th tee earlier this year and there was a large cow patty sitting right in the middle of the white tees and there were 3 coos sitting up there on the tee box.


They’re very photogenic, but I can believe that the amount of work and damage is with that.

[Thomas Dai]

As an aside it becomes more difficult for the golf-hating brigade and the enviro lobby to criticise golf courses if the courses have grazing animals on them.
Atb


PS - sheep apparently grazed TOC at StA until 1946

[Steve Wilson]

The membership will soon be voting on whether or not to remove the sheep and cattle from the course.


Put it this way, if Brora vote to remove them, if I was at supposedly struggling nearby Golspie I'd invite the animals there ASAP!

My conversations with members who have been playing Golspie for around sixty years have informed me that Golspie did have animals on the course until the late 1980s.  At that time there was none of the long rough that borders some of the playing lanes.  So Golspie was being played under the same conditions as Brora but decided to remove the animals. 


I think James Boon's post about the amount of work required by the grounds crew to remove dung constitutes an example of "invisible" work that goes on behind the scenes that makes our experience more enjoyable.  The animals may be quaint but they are not central to the experience and to expect them to be there is to my mind somewhat condescending.  Marie Antoinette may or may not have said "Then let them eat cake" (some versions say brioche), but in our preference for the animals at Brora we are implying if not directly stating "Then let them shovel shit."

[Philip Gawith]

I believe the club has voted to remove the cattle. Among the reasons apparently cited by the course manager is that he has taken the course as far as he can sharing it with cattle; without them he can improve the turf, the playing experience, help the course “go up the rankings” and be judged as a golf course, not a field. I have played Brora for thirty years and none of those comments resonate.

[Ben Sims]

I believe the club has voted to remove the cattle. Among the reasons apparently cited by the course manager is that he has taken the course as far as he can sharing it with cattle; without them he can improve the turf, the playing experience, help the course “go up the rankings” and be judged as a golf course, not a field. I have played Brora for thirty years and none of those comments resonate.

It’s not just the cattle, it’s all the livestock. The more I reflect on what makes Brora, Brora, I support James MacBeath and his team’s wish to have them removed. The membership voted and we will see what happens now.

[Sean_A]

I believe the club has voted to remove the cattle. Among the reasons apparently cited by the course manager is that he has taken the course as far as he can sharing it with cattle; without them he can improve the turf, the playing experience, help the course “go up the rankings” and be judged as a golf course, not a field. I have played Brora for thirty years and none of those comments resonate.

It’s not just the cattle, it’s all the livestock. The more I reflect on what makes Brora, Brora, I support James MacBeath and his team’s wish to have them removed. The membership voted and we will see what happens now.

That’s the nub of it. The members voted and that is that. GB&I clubs continue to homogenize their courses.

Happy Thanksgiving

[Chris Hughes]

I believe the club has voted to remove the cattle. Among the reasons apparently cited by the course manager is that he has taken the course as far as he can sharing it with cattle; without them he can improve the turf, the playing experience, help the course “go up the rankings” and be judged as a golf course, not a field. I have played Brora for thirty years and none of those comments resonate.

It’s not just the cattle, it’s all the livestock.

Eactly how many "cattle" and other "livestock" are there?


Why would any employee at Brora care about or be motivated by it going "up in the rankings"?

[Niall C]

Why would any employee at Brora care about or be motivated by it going "up in the rankings"?

Because they take pride in their work and a higher ranking is validation for that work.


Niall

[Mark Pearce]

I believe the club has voted to remove the cattle. Among the reasons apparently cited by the course manager is that he has taken the course as far as he can sharing it with cattle; without them he can improve the turf, the playing experience, help the course “go up the rankings” and be judged as a golf course, not a field. I have played Brora for thirty years and none of those comments resonate.

Nor with me.  It has never occurred to me that Brora needed better turf, or that there was anything lacking in the "playing experience".  Indeed, the sheep were a point of difference and, for me, enhanced the experience.


It strikes me that two of the most enjoyable courses to play that I know, Brora and Kington both have sheep and both have excellent turf and playing conditions.

[Thomas Dai]

Removing from a course the bigger, heavier beasties like cows (and at some places horses) is kinda understandable from a maintenance and even playing perspective as their size and weight does have (literally) and impact on playing surfaces, bunker edges etc. They can however, be fitted with electric collars which give them a wee pulse should they wish to stray into pre-defined areas.
Removing sheep is a different matter.
Over the years I’ve attempted to play as many sheep grazed courses as possible. Not one has been a disappointment, indeed quite the opposite. It’s also worth pointing out that TOC at St Andrews was sheep grazed until 1946. And even ANGC had sheep and cattle and turkeys roaming its grounds during WW2. Pebble Beach apparently had them in its earliest days too.
While some folks might not like something organically produced on the ground near their feet the benefits of sheep grazing providing there is no overgrazing are significant. For example, sheep produce the perfect height of cut (nibble) for fairways whilst not being keen on putting surfaces as the grass is cut too short for them to nibble conveniently.
As to other animals, kangaroos inhabit Aussie courses and goats are great for keeping scrub and brush at bay. Goats are even the club crest at Lahinch.
From a related aspect having sheep (and other grazing animals) plus things like bird boxes, bee hives, bug ‘hotels’ etc sends a significant and very visual environmental message and any environmental message golf sends to the outside world where golf-haters etc exist has to be be positive for the game.
Atb

[Ben Sims]

This thread is getting a bit bizarre. It would interest me how many people here got a vote on the matter, and what their position was. I’d like to be transparent, I received a vote and had I voted I would’ve voted to remove the livestock from the golf course due almost totally in part to two things. 1) that’s what the staff seemed to want and 2) the course manager’s input was very persuasive.


One point he made was that they had run tests and assured the membership the rough wouldn’t change. The second point is that he felt there were significant issues with getting the greens surrounds to play as firm and fast as he wanted with livestock on the course. On that second point, I agree. I noticed the same last summer.


But, in the end I abstained. Why? Because I live in Colorado and this isn’t my home club. I adore the course and sheep/coos aren’t the reason why. But it’s not up to me to tell a local member what they should or shouldn’t have to put up with on their home course.


Good golf trumps nostalgia and the case was properly made that the golf would benefit.

[Ken Moum]

Why would any employee at Brora care about or be motivated by it going "up in the rankings"?

Because they take pride in their work and a higher ranking is validation for that work.


Niall

I know that to be true from my last employment, but I always thought it was crappy way for turf folks to look at it.  And it undoubtedly has been the source of vast sums of money being spent that often has little to with how a course actually plays for the kind of golfer, and golfers, I prefer.


But then I decided several decades ago that conditioning simply wasn't something I was willing to bitch about.  Which puts me in a tiny minority of golfers where I play.

[Sean_A]

I believe the club has voted to remove the cattle. Among the reasons apparently cited by the course manager is that he has taken the course as far as he can sharing it with cattle; without them he can improve the turf, the playing experience, help the course “go up the rankings” and be judged as a golf course, not a field. I have played Brora for thirty years and none of those comments resonate.

It’s not just the cattle, it’s all the livestock.

Eactly how many "cattle" and other "livestock" are there?


Why would any employee at Brora care about or be motivated by it going "up in the rankings"?

Higher rankings equals the justification to charge higher green fees…and thus the merry go round starts for Brora.

Brora may well be the most notable course which “allows” grazing animals. Assuming the club is successful and the livestock is removed…which course takes over the number 1 spot?

Ciao

[Matt Wharton]

I first played Brora on September 30, 2021 and it was an emotional experience. I don't know how to describe it but I was moved in a way completely different than what I experienced playing the Old Course for the first time in 2019 or even Royal Dornoch on that same trip to the Highlands in 2021. I came home with a membership application for Brora but ultimately joined Royal Dornoch, but I digress.


I have returned to the Highlands on two other occasions and made sure to experience Brora each trip. Over the past three years it has been a pleasure getting to know Brora's course manager, James MacBeath. We teed it up together earlier this year in Phoenix, AZ when he attended the GCSAA Conference and Show, and he joined me and my wife for our round at Brora during our Highlands trip in September this year.


I have listened for some time to James talk about the team and the laborious task of cleaning poo every single day to begin the course preparation procedures. I have listened to James talk about people making the journey to Brora and taking pictures of the sheep and the coos rather than pictures of the golf course. I have listened to James closely and attentively and he makes a compelling case for why Brora would want to be known for the quality James Braid designed golf course and immaculate conditions he and his team produce without the presence of sheep and coos.


But I also know if not for the sheep and coos I cannot say with certainty my original experience would have been as impactful. I truly felt that day not just transported physically miles away from the stresses of everyday life, but transported spiritually through time, and I am certain the sheep and coos played an important role in that experience.


I for one am conflicted, but whatever they decide I will forever play Brora when I am in the Highlands, whether or not the sheep and/or coos are present. But I secretly hope they are.

[Chris Hughes]

I believe the club has voted to remove the cattle. Among the reasons apparently cited by the course manager is that he has taken the course as far as he can sharing it with cattle; without them he can improve the turf, the playing experience, help the course “go up the rankings” and be judged as a golf course, not a field. I have played Brora for thirty years and none of those comments resonate.

It’s not just the cattle, it’s all the livestock.

Eactly how many "cattle" and other "livestock" are there?


Why would any employee at Brora care about or be motivated by it going "up in the rankings"?

Higher rankings equals the justification to charge higher green fees…and thus the merry go round starts for Brora.

Does it?  Will it?


In the Golf Magazine Top-100 UK/Ireland Brora (63) ranks behind Western Gailes (45) but well ahead of Dumbarnie Links (93)...


...but charges a significantly lower visitor green fee vs. the other two (£100+).

[Sean_A]

I believe the club has voted to remove the cattle. Among the reasons apparently cited by the course manager is that he has taken the course as far as he can sharing it with cattle; without them he can improve the turf, the playing experience, help the course “go up the rankings” and be judged as a golf course, not a field. I have played Brora for thirty years and none of those comments resonate.

It’s not just the cattle, it’s all the livestock.

Eactly how many "cattle" and other "livestock" are there?


Why would any employee at Brora care about or be motivated by it going "up in the rankings"?

Higher rankings equals the justification to charge higher green fees…and thus the merry go round starts for Brora.

Does it?  Will it?


In the Golf Magazine Top-100 UK/Ireland Brora (63) ranks behind Western Gailes (45) but well ahead of Dumbarnie Links (93)...


...but charges a significantly lower visitor green fee vs. the other two (
£100+).

The fee has risen sharply in recent years. I absolutely believe the fee will continue to rise well above inflation rates.


Ciao

[Chris Hughes]

Why would any employee at Brora care about or be motivated by it going "up in the rankings"?

Because they take pride in their work and a higher ranking is validation for that work.


Niall

If they take pride in their work, the latter should take care of itself.


Conversely, hopefully chasing "rankings" isn't driving any of their decision making as it goes to "their work".

[Chris Hughes]

I believe the club has voted to remove the cattle. Among the reasons apparently cited by the course manager is that he has taken the course as far as he can sharing it with cattle; without them he can improve the turf, the playing experience, help the course “go up the rankings” and be judged as a golf course, not a field. I have played Brora for thirty years and none of those comments resonate.

It’s not just the cattle, it’s all the livestock.

Eactly how many "cattle" and other "livestock" are there?


Why would any employee at Brora care about or be motivated by it going "up in the rankings"?

Higher rankings equals the justification to charge higher green fees…and thus the merry go round starts for Brora.

Does it?  Will it?


In the Golf Magazine Top-100 UK/Ireland Brora (63) ranks behind Western Gailes (45) but well ahead of Dumbarnie Links (93)...


...but charges a significantly lower visitor green fee vs. the other two (
£100+).

The fee has risen sharply in recent years. I absolutely believe the fee will continue to rise well above inflation rates.

But only if the "rankings" come?


Currently Nairn, Western Gailes and Dumbarnie all charge (a lot) more...sure seems like Brora has a clear path to raise the fee right now (rankings be damned).


I'm with Matthew, leave well enough alone. 


I'm sure all 4 courses are excellent but only one has a unique differentiating characteristic that drives £-free-$ "word of mouth" advertising* on a world-wide basis -- damned if I'd mess with that. 


[*which I'd bet is worth WAY more than going from #63 to #53 in the rankings]

[Sean_A]

I believe the club has voted to remove the cattle. Among the reasons apparently cited by the course manager is that he has taken the course as far as he can sharing it with cattle; without them he can improve the turf, the playing experience, help the course “go up the rankings” and be judged as a golf course, not a field. I have played Brora for thirty years and none of those comments resonate.

It’s not just the cattle, it’s all the livestock.

Eactly how many "cattle" and other "livestock" are there?


Why would any employee at Brora care about or be motivated by it going "up in the rankings"?

Higher rankings equals the justification to charge higher green fees…and thus the merry go round starts for Brora.

Does it?  Will it?


In the Golf Magazine Top-100 UK/Ireland Brora (63) ranks behind Western Gailes (45) but well ahead of Dumbarnie Links (93)...


...but charges a significantly lower visitor green fee vs. the other two (
£100+).

The fee has risen sharply in recent years. I absolutely believe the fee will continue to rise well above inflation rates.

But only if the "rankings" come?


Currently Nairn, Western Gailes and Dumbarnie all charge (a lot) more...sure seems like Brora has a clear path to raise the fee right now (rankings be damned).


I'm with Matthew, leave well enough alone. 


I'm sure all 4 courses are excellent but only one has a unique differentiating characteristic that drives £-free-$ "word of mouth" advertising* on a world-wide basis -- damned if I'd mess with that. 


[*which I'd bet is worth WAY more than going from #63 to #53 in the rankings]

Rankings help justify green fees. So yes, if Brora suddenly was ranked 10 in GB&I, it would charge more than if ranked 75.

I too think it’s a mistake to remove the sheep, but think it’s a good idea to remove the cattle. Only because practically every sheep grazed course I know has high quality fairways and rough. If done well, the transition from fairways to rough is seamless. But, the members voted and that’s that. Brora is only following the trend to homogenize courses so the decision is not surprising.

Ciao

[Simon Barrington]

I first played Brora on September 30, 2021 and it was an emotional experience. I don't know how to describe it but I was moved in a way completely different than what I experienced playing the Old Course for the first time in 2019 or even Royal Dornoch on that same trip to the Highlands in 2021. I came home with a membership application for Brora but ultimately joined Royal Dornoch, but I digress.

I have returned to the Highlands on two other occasions and made sure to experience Brora each trip. Over the past three years it has been a pleasure getting to know Brora's course manager, James MacBeath. We teed it up together earlier this year in Phoenix, AZ when he attended the GCSAA Conference and Show, and he joined me and my wife for our round at Brora during our Highlands trip in September this year.

I have listened for some time to James talk about the team and the laborious task of cleaning poo every single day to begin the course preparation procedures. I have listened to James talk about people making the journey to Brora and taking pictures of the sheep and the coos rather than pictures of the golf course. I have listened to James closely and attentively and he makes a compelling case for why Brora would want to be known for the quality James Braid designed golf course and immaculate conditions he and his team produce without the presence of sheep and coos.

But I also know if not for the sheep and coos I cannot say with certainty my original experience would have been as impactful. I truly felt that day not just transported physically miles away from the stresses of everyday life, but transported spiritually through time, and I am certain the sheep and coos played an important role in that experience.

I for one am conflicted, but whatever they decide I will forever play Brora when I am in the Highlands, whether or not the sheep and/or coos are present. But I secretly hope they are.

Thanks for that balance, and it is of course the members' decision (although from another post the number of members actually voting seems very small indeed, less than 100).
 
But the key factor here seems to be an ambitious Course Manger seeking "immaculate conditions" i.e. the opposite of what some on here and many visitors laud at Brora.
I do not criticise his ambition nor professional desire to produce the best surface he can, but it seems odd to me for him to seek inputs and learning at the GCSAA Conference in the US, when he could/should actually be exporting his knowledge of naturalised and environmental stewardship (as has been the case at Brora for over a century) to the US.
Brambles is leading the way stateside, and Kingarroch in Scotland too.
There are many other historic examples over here.

The information flow and desire to mimic what is overseas, seems the wrong way round.

IMHO other courses can learn from Brora and other sheep grazed courses, especially relevant to rough management as Sean says.

N.B. I do sympathise with the Cow-pat issue, but I don't believe the membership were offered options of either:
a) keep the sheep, but lose the cows
or
b) keep the cows in non-playing areas

Perhaps there are not sufficiently strong people on the Green/Main Committee, who understand what is unique and needs to be protected, to resist such moves (certainly such a dramatic change, rather than incremental)
But perhaps the constituents of such committees have changed a lot since COVID and we know there has been a large in-bound membership at Brora (which of course helped its survival and now land ownership).

Things change, but not always for the better (time will tell on this one).

[Tim Martin]

Are people really going to skip Brora if the cows are gone? I detect a sentiment from some that they are a magical creature that if removed will adversely impact the experience. I don’t understand the attachment and the argument that they have always been there doesn’t sway me.