Ayrshire Post

Flexi golf scheme has left players bunkered

But good news teed up as season tickets back on card

- PAUL BEHAN

A huge demand to play on some of South Ayrshire’s municipal golf courses left some long standing season ticket holders bunkered, it has been claimed.

With the rush to get back playing again, South Ayrshire Golf has been inundated with booking inquiries, which has led to some golfers missing out.

Some disgruntle­d golfers have levelled their criticism at the FLEXI-Membership, which was supposed to make it easier to turn up and play.

FLEXI-Membership is a points based membership which allows you to join online, as a member, and make payments online to top up your membership account.

But one golfer, who had opted for a season ticket for the last 43 years, isn’t happy about the current set-up.

And he claims private club members are muscling in on the municipal action.

He said: “There are a number of people who are members of St Nicholas Golf Club and St Cuthbert’s Golf Club who have taken out the Flexi Membership.

“It has been extremely difficult to book times on the Ayr courses and with these people taking up the times they have probably caused the problem.

“If they had wanted to play on the municipal courses this time last year it would have cost them £20 on the smaller courses like Seafield and about £30 on Belleisle.

“If I wanted to play on their courses it would probably cost me and my friends at least £40 for a round.

“That’s if I could get on to their courses at the present time.”

He added: “It is time to get the proper season tickets up and running and get rid of this FLEXI Membership.

“There is general feeling that we have been badly treated by this system – we have been “shafted.”

But the good news is that traditiona­l season tickets are now back – although the FLEXImembe­rship is going to be retained.

A council spokespers­on said: “Our FLEXI-membership has proven to be extremely popular; so we plan to retain this, alongside the more traditiona­l membership package.

“Geographic­al membership­s will be reviewed again as restrictio­ns are relaxed, when we will look to reinstate an eightcours­e membership package.

“More good news is that we expect that our golf clubhouses will be able to re-open on a restricted basis from Wednesday 15 July.”

Councillor Siobhian Brown, South Ayrshire Council’s Portfolio

Holder for Economy and Culture said: “I’m sure the re-introducti­on of the more traditiona­l golf season ticket will be great news for many golfers.

“And I’m delighted that we are in a position to be able to offer this very soon after restrictio­ns ease further.

“Our golf team have worked really hard over the last few weeks to ensure we are ready to take the next steps in the phased return to golf.”

She added: “Golf plays an important part in the physical and mental wellbeing of many of our residents, and I’m extremely proud of the progress we’ve made so far in the local recovery of the sport.”

 ??  ?? Popular Demand for golf has outstrippe­d supply, it would seem
Popular Demand for golf has outstrippe­d supply, it would seem

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