Spey Valley pay-and-play enoys huge revenue increase

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
It came as no surprise really but the revenue increase at one of Scotland's leading 'pay-and-play' courses last year certainly highlights why golf clubs are finding it difficult at the moment to fill their memberships.
According to Ruaridh Macdonald, the sales and marketing director of Macdonald Hotels and Resorts, the overall revenue at the Spey Valley course, Aviemore increased by 25 per cent year on year in 2009 and the forecast for this year is a rise of 30-35 per cent.
"As a business, we have seen a huge upturn across the country in people paying and playing," he said, adding it had become a preferred option for many "because they can't finance a year's membership at a golf club."
He's right, of course, and that's making life difficult for clubs but hats off to those who are trying to address the problem by thinking out of the box. Take Dollar, for example. One of the first clubs in Scotland to admit that membership loss was threatening its existence, it has just taken an enterprising step by creating a holiday flat in the upper floor of the clubhouse.
Club officials are confident 'The Glen' apartment will become an attractive tourist venue and it certainly should with golf on offer to visitors for only £10 per day and, what's more, they can play in club medals if they have an official handicap certificate.
Little things like that can have a big impact, so let's see more clubs coming up with similar money-making ideas.

... on the other hand, East Aberdeenshire complex to close

David Watson, owner and founder of the East Aberdeenshire Golf Centre at Milden, north of Aberdeen and near Balmedie, is to close its facilities for good on April.
Farmer Watson built the 18-hole course on his land at a cost of £1.2million - having been turned down by the Scottish Sports Council's lottery fund committee - and the course and 16-bay driving range opened for business on May 1, 1999.
Mr Watson said that after a happy 10 years in the business, it was time for him to focus on other interests.
"We would like to thank our loyal members and their families for the support and friendship over the years and look forward to keeping these relations," said Mr Watson who employed former North-District Golf Association president Ian Creswell as his course designer and director of golf in the early year or two.
The course is just under 6,400yd with a par of 70.