Golfer is teed off at booking times row
Chiefs accused of ‘ cover- up’
Golfers are missing out on the chance to play municipal courses because of unfair booking rules, it is claimed.
Brian Anderson, who has been golfing for 67 years, has accused local golf chiefs of a ‘ cover- up’ and claims some players have a ‘ ridiculous advantage’.
Brian, 74, has taken his fight to John Scott MSP and called for a level playing field to be introduced during the Covid- 19 pandemic.
The retired financial adviser hit out: “There is a cover- up being carried out by the leaders of Golf South Ayrshire.
“It has taken me months to obtain the relevant numbers playing golf in South Ayrshire.
“I asked staff, the manager and the council member to no avail. I tried Freedom of Information and after four weeks received very confused information as at August 1.
“John Scott MSP did much better and quickly got the stats.
“The cover- up is because players affiliated to golf societies using municipal courses get preferential booking.
“Currently club members get ALL the tees but three for Belleisle and Seafield.
“At a time when every course in the UK is inundated they have a ridiculous advantage.”
Brian says golf clubs affiliated to municipal courses are granted access to book tees two days before season ticket holders and four days before a ‘ flexi’ player.
He claims they access about 90 per cent of the times before season ticket holders get a chance.
Council figures show that 1395 of adult, seven day, season ticket holders identify as a club member. There are 2869 season ticket holders and 2103 flexi members in total.
Brian, who lives in Ayr, claimed: “When the electronic booking system goes live for me at 9pm, it’s like playing fastest finger on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire when the clock changes but nearly every tee- time has got four names against it.
“For the three tees reserved at Belleisle and Seafield, there can be 750 people trying to phone the clubhouse at 8.30am the next morning.
“I understand that historically players affiliated get preferential treatment but that surely shouldn’t be the case during an emergency. We all pay our rates so there should be equitable right to access.
“It took me 20 working days to be given the information I was looking for while John Scott got accurate info back within a week.
“It has become impossible for non golf club affiliates to book Belleisle or Seafield, In effect, one third of residents have no access to a municipal facility.”
Brian added: “It seems to me that a group of golf affiliates are getting first access to ALL the tees.”