New proposal for Scottish Golf fee is £15 but that will still be ‘difficult to stomach’

● Governing body looking for 33 per cent increase in club members’ affiliation cost

Scottish Golf has significantly lowered its proposed hike in the national affiliation fee – but is being warned the rise is still going to be “difficult to stomach” for the majority of golf club members.

Initially set at £24 – an increase of £12.75 – before that controversial proposal was scrapped towards the end of last year, the new figure being put on the table by the governing body is £15. That will be put to a vote by stakeholders, a group that includes close to 600 affiliated clubs, at Scottish Golf’s annual general meeting at Dalmahoy early next month.

Aimed at raising £4 million over four years to help combat funding from sportscotland having been slashed, the initial proposal was put forward by Blane Dodds before he quit as Scottish Golf’s chief executive to take up the same post at Tennis Scotland.

That, along with other proposals to introduce a national CRM system and the implementation of a golf tourist tax, had been due to be voted on at a special meeting in December before it was scrapped.

Instead, as part of Scottish Golf deciding to extend a period of consultation before finalising a new strategy, it took the form of a national conference – the first of its kind in the home of golf – in Edinburgh.

Delegates were warned that paying £24 would feel “like a

STEVEN BRAND walk in the park” compared to seeing their annual subscription rising by more than 80 per cent in ten years’ time, a claim made by Scottish Golf board member Stewart Darling.

However, fears that may have pointed to the national body, which is being run by chair Eleanor Cannon, pictured, until Andrew Mckinlay, the newly-appointed chief executive, takes up his post in May, pushing ahead with a big rise have now been allayed.

Despite that, though, one golf club committee member has said that he still believes there will be opposition to the proposed £3.75 rise. “I personally think that the increase is still going to be difficult to stomach for the majority of golf club members as, although the actual amount is small, the percentage increase is 33 per cent,” Steven Brand, who is the match secretary at Aberdour, told The Scotsman.

“For club members to accept such a fee, Scottish Golf must address the issue of transient golfers who are not affiliated to golf clubs and they must also look to charge fees relative to a club’s turnover to help out the smaller clubs. Many members don’t see what benefit they receive from the affiliation fee, although through the match secretary role, I have experienced first hand how Scottish Golf staff help with handicap queries, rules queries, etc.

“At the moment, golfers are paying to be members of clubs, and then being charged an additional amount to be affiliated to Scottish Golf. Golfers who simply play golf at a different course every week pay neither membership fees nor the affiliation fee. “Scottish Golf have to address such issues, and they need to forget about the CRM and centralised tee booking. I would also note from their accounts that, despite funding and subscriptions falling, salaries at Scottish Golf have increased year-on-year.” Catriona Matthew, the 1996 winner, joins Gemma Dryburgh and Michele Thomson in providing the Scottish representation in this week’s ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open in Adelaide.

Kylie Henry and Carly Booth narrowly missed out in a qualifier for the event, leaving the experienced Matthew and rising stars Dryburgh and Thomson to fly the Saltire at Kooyonga Golf Club.

“You wouldn’t be out here if you didn’t think you could – that’s the beauty of golf, you can compete at different ages,” said Solheim Cup captain Matthew in spelling out that she still believes she can be a contender in big events.

Dryburgh, who secured her place in the field through the LPGA, finished in a tie for 66th last year, just behind Thomson in joint 64th. “I’m feeling more comfortable this year and a bit more used to everything,” said Dryburgh. “This week I’d love to finish top 30 and improve on last year.”

Thomson has been Down Under for more than a month and finished in a tie for 15th in the Canberra Classic last week. “I’m really pleased with how things are going forward and I’m hoping to take some positives from last week and play well here,” said the Aberdeen woman.

Also in the field is Edinburgh-based American Beth Allen, who finished joint seventh 12 months ago behind Korea’s Ha-na Jang. “I love these courses in Adelaide, I really do, so I’m excited about this one,” said Allen, the 2016 LET Order of Merit winner.

This week’s field features eight of the world’s top 20 players, including So Yeon Ryu, Cristie Kerr, Lydia Ko, Brooke Henderson and Ariya Jutanugarn.

In the amater ranks, Scottish players got off to a slow start in the African Amateur Championship, won last year by Dumfries man Liam Johnston. As Frenchman Frédéric Lacroix set the pace with a five-underpar 67 at Glendower, Sam Locke and Calum Fyfe fared best of the Scots with matching 74s while Darren Howie had a 75.

“For club members to accept such a fee, Scottish Golf must address the issue of transient golfers who are not affiliated to golf clubs”