EDINBURGH & EAST OF SCOTLAND GOLFERS' ALLIANCE
SECRETARY-TREASURER'S NOTES ON YEAR ENDING
MARCH 31, 2007 ACCOUNTS

By DUNCAN IRELAND
Overall, yet another good year for the Alliance. We were very fortunate in not having to postpone/cancel any of our events this year and were favoured with some pretty good weather into the bargain.
The membership for 2006-7 was 202, nine members down on the previous year, although perhaps still a little too many. Now that the accounts are in such a healthy position, it would be a good time to attempt to reduce the membership numbers even further, to perhaps as low as 175, in an attempt to reduce the waiting times that some members experienced at a few of this year’s outings.
The cost to the Edinburgh and East of Scotland GA of reducing the membership numbers to 175, would be 27 x £75 = £2,025. If this reduction in membership reduced the numbers attending our events by 10 players then this would further reduce income by 10 x £10 x 13 outings = £1,300.
The total deficit would be £3,325 against a surplus last year of £4,045, still leaving a surplus for the year.
The membership waiting list is still quite healthy at 35. This means that even if reducing the membership numbers didn’t work out, then in a year or two, EESGA could accept more members from the waiting list to create additional income.
I remain unconvinced about the way any pre-booking system will work and I think that the reduction in membership may result in a few fewer players attending each event, which should prevent the long waits to tee-off that occasionally happened.
Of course, the events still need to be fairly well attended, if they are to pay their way and not help create an unmanageable deficit for the year.
The host clubs we used this year all seemed to be quite happy with the outing fee of £600 and I am, therefore, fairly sure that this will not need to increase until season 2008-9.
There are a couple of worrying points though. Firstly, although total membership numbers are fine, there are very few professional and trainee professional members – 30 & 12 respectively. This continuing trend is disappointing. Do we need to address it? What can we do to encourage more professionals to join?
Secondly, there appear to be more and more of our members playing their golf and rushing straight away without using our host club’s bar/catering facilities. If this continues and host clubs start to notice that the income generated from our events is reducing they may either hike up the course hire fee or even go as far as to say that we are no longer welcome.
That would be a pity. Surely, if you can manage to play golf for four hours, you’ve got the time to enjoy a drink and something to eat with your playing partners?
Some points to note on the accounts for 2006/7.
Surplus for the year of £4,045.
Although technically part of this season, the cost of the team match v the West Alliance will show in the accounts for season 2007-8 as the match was played after the accounts were submitted for auditing. The cost was approximately £1,350.
Green fees paid out were slightly higher than the previous year as we increased the outing fee to £600. This figure still represents excellent value, although it we will have to increase it every second year to ensure host clubs do not start to turn us away.
Prize money-vouchers were slightly up on last year as we had one more event this year than last year.
Trophies-engraving costs were up on last year as we had to repair to damaged trophies at a cost of £130.
Printing/Postage/Stationery – down on last year but will be greater next year as we do not have much stationery left.
EESGA Jumpers – we have many new members who have not had the chance to buy jumpers. I think we should place an order this year but only for jumpers that have been specifically ordered and paid for in advance. I propose to send out an order form with the subscription notices this summer.
***It is with regret that I must inform you that EESGA member David Smith passed away on the 17th. David had been an EESGA member for nearly 40 years but hadn't been keeping too well latterly, which prevented him from attending many of the outings. He will be sadly missed.
The funeral will be held on Friday 20th at noon and will be at St Margaret's Parish Church, Able Place, Dunfermline. The president, J T Anderson, has sent a card to the family on the EESGA's behalf.