Falling members means Torphins Hill
cannot afford to keep Browne as pro
FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
An Edinburgh golf club is dispensing with the services of its professional after seeing membership levels fall by 50 per cent over the past few years.
Jamie Browne, who has been at Torphin Hill for the last 12 years, is leaving the club at the end of this month and will not be replaced."
Jamie is leaving mainly for financial reasons brought on by a falling membership," said Willie McCathie, the club secretary.
"We are down to just over 200 ordinary members, having had 400 or so eight years ago."
Most golf clubs in Scotland have lost members this year due to the recession, with some holding special Open Days to try and recruit new players.
Royal Musselburgh and Newbattle have already held such events and Lothianburn are opening their doors this Sunday.
"It's a real fight these days not only to get new members but then keep them," added McCathie. "The trouble is that, with a lot of the clubs having taken the step of getting rid of a joining fee, people are having a year here and a year there.
"We've got a special offer at the moment whereby people can become a member for £368 in the first year and we've had a small uptake on that. Whether they stay after that first year, however, is another matter and, unfortunately, it was a case of either dispensing with the club pro or the admin staff."
Browne, who was previously at the Braid Hills Golf Centre, will retain his status as a PGA pro but will be starting a new venture to try and make ends meet once he finishes at Torphin Hill.
"I will be staying as a golf professional and would like to get a teaching position somewhere," he said. "But, in the meantime, my brother, Malcolm, and I are going to get a black cab in Edinburgh."
Meanwhile, Lloyd Saltman has pulled out of this week's European Challenge Tour event in France after missing the cut in his last two outings on that circuit.
"He is taking the week off," commented dad Jack, who manages Lloyd and his two brothers, Elliot and Zack. Elliot is in action this week on the PGA EuroPro at Faithlegg in Ireland and will hope to take up where he left off when finishing strongly to tie for second at Collingtree Park last
week.
cannot afford to keep Browne as pro
FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
An Edinburgh golf club is dispensing with the services of its professional after seeing membership levels fall by 50 per cent over the past few years.
Jamie Browne, who has been at Torphin Hill for the last 12 years, is leaving the club at the end of this month and will not be replaced."
Jamie is leaving mainly for financial reasons brought on by a falling membership," said Willie McCathie, the club secretary.
"We are down to just over 200 ordinary members, having had 400 or so eight years ago."
Most golf clubs in Scotland have lost members this year due to the recession, with some holding special Open Days to try and recruit new players.
Royal Musselburgh and Newbattle have already held such events and Lothianburn are opening their doors this Sunday.
"It's a real fight these days not only to get new members but then keep them," added McCathie. "The trouble is that, with a lot of the clubs having taken the step of getting rid of a joining fee, people are having a year here and a year there.
"We've got a special offer at the moment whereby people can become a member for £368 in the first year and we've had a small uptake on that. Whether they stay after that first year, however, is another matter and, unfortunately, it was a case of either dispensing with the club pro or the admin staff."
Browne, who was previously at the Braid Hills Golf Centre, will retain his status as a PGA pro but will be starting a new venture to try and make ends meet once he finishes at Torphin Hill.
"I will be staying as a golf professional and would like to get a teaching position somewhere," he said. "But, in the meantime, my brother, Malcolm, and I are going to get a black cab in Edinburgh."
Meanwhile, Lloyd Saltman has pulled out of this week's European Challenge Tour event in France after missing the cut in his last two outings on that circuit.
"He is taking the week off," commented dad Jack, who manages Lloyd and his two brothers, Elliot and Zack. Elliot is in action this week on the PGA EuroPro at Faithlegg in Ireland and will hope to take up where he left off when finishing strongly to tie for second at Collingtree Park last
week.
Labels: PRO GOLF
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Tuesday, May 12, 2009
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