The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Club tees off golfers with hike in prices
Carnoustie golf bosses have admitted that local players weren’t consulted over a massive season ticket price hike because the answer would be one they didn’t want.
But the committee which runs the world-famous Open Championship venue has escaped action by Angus Council for pushing the controversial changes through without consulting it as links’ landlord.
Some golfers saw their annual fee double to more than £600 this year. There was anger about the scrapping of a five-day ticket and discounts for over-65s were axed.
Carnoustie Golf Links Management Committee (CGLMC) said fee rises were on the cards for years but never properly addressed.
But a lack of consultation and little warning of the changes being applied were heavily criticised.
CGLMC deputy chief executive Adair Simpson was quizzed by councillors at a full meeting of the authority this week about the fee changes.
Carnoustie’s pricing hinges on the ratio between yearly and visitor tickets.
Mr Simpson said season ticket golf at Carnoustie is being subsidised to the tune of £1.5 million a year.
“Local perception is that should be funded by visitor revenue,” he said. “But if we get that balance wrong, the group going to be hit most is season ticket holders.”
Prior to the changes, Carnoustie provided the cheapest access to golf in Angus.
“This meant an Angus resident could play the world’s best golf course and two other fabulous golf courses for as little as £324 a year,” he added.
And he said that had brought players flooding to the town and threatened the future of other Angus clubs and meant a previous waiting list of more than 15 years to join.
Links finance director Mr Simpson admitted they had not apologised for the lack of consultation.
“We felt a consultation on something that no one was going to sign up to probably wasn’t going to be fruitful,” he said.
Kirriemuir councillor Julie Bell said: “I think there’s a disconnect there between the organisation and the people who have been affected.
“You may well believe you’ve done the right thing for the business.”
Provost Brian Boyd said the authority will write to CGLMC expressing its “disappointment”, but no further action would be taken.