LETHAM GRANGE BACK IN FULL SWING, THANKS TO MEMBERS

LETHAM GRANGE Hotel which serves as a clubhouse for the two courses at the golf venue near Arbroath. Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

AN AMAZING SUCCESS STORY - says club captain 

FROM THE SPORT.SCOTSMAN.COM WEBSITE
Just under a year after fearing they’d become golfing nomads as the doors slammed shut at Letham Grange, a decision by members to take over the running of the two courses at the Angus venue is proving hugely successful.
A membership target of 300 this year was exceeded by more than 200 and now the members have been given the go-ahead to continue operating the courses until March 2013.
“It has been an amazing success,” said club captain Nick Jackson of a venture that was launched in the wake of the facility near Arbroath going into liquidation due to a long- running saga over disputed ownership.
That has still to be resolved but, in the year it celebrated its 25th aniversary, the golf club members took on the running of the courses and managed to get them open again for the start of the season.

“Some of the Letham Grange residents contributed financially and we sought every opportunity we could think of to raise funds. Our budget and operating plan (which was based on a membership of 250 and a skeleton greenkeeping staff) worked. We are financially stable and able to meet all of our commitments, including some significant improvements to the drainage of both courses.
“We hoped we might be able to stretch the membership beyond the 300 mark but over 500 is far beyond our expectations,” added Jackson. “We are now looking to do the same again in 2012, bring in more members and have another great golfing year."

+Lower picture is the view from the 18th tee on the Old Course, playing to the green beside the hotel. Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency.