Jump to content

Inchmarlo

1983

By 1983,
in The Pub

Recommended Posts


1983 Rookie

1983

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Golf clubs are struggling all over the north east, especially those not in proximity to aberdeen coupled with all the money they have spent on the lodges it doesnt suprise me.

 

It would be strange if they used working capitol to build the houses?!

 

I haven't heard of any courses struggling to the point of closing.

Link to comment
Foster14 Apprentice

Foster14

Posted
Posted

It would be strange if they used working capitol to build the houses?!

 

I haven't heard of any courses struggling to the point of closing.

 

Per your link, the company doesn't own the course, they lease it (so the lease is now available for sale). Not the foggiest about what the rent payable is, but if it was negotiated at a time when the economy was in better shape and there was much more corporate entertainment ongoing, the lease may have been at a level which they are unable to meet now.

 

Or maybe it ain't even the golf element of its operation that is failing, and they are struggling to repay any external financing obtained to develop the lodges etc.

 

I'd be surprised to see the golf course element disappear for good.

Link to comment
1983 Rookie

1983

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Per your link, the company doesn't own the course, they lease it (so the lease is now available for sale). Not the foggiest about what the rent payable is, but if it was negotiated at a time when the economy was in better shape and there was much more corporate entertainment ongoing, the lease may have been at a level which they are unable to meet now.

 

Or maybe it ain't even the golf element of its operation that is failing, and they are struggling to repay any external financing obtained to develop the lodges etc.

 

I'd be surprised to see the golf course element disappear for good.

 

Yeah Foster, that's my point. I would be surprised if the operational side of things was losing money, more likely other areas of the company, especially with external borrowing/leasing. The statement was strange however, regarding trading difficulties.

Link to comment
Foster14 Apprentice

Foster14

Posted
Posted

Yeah Foster, that's my point. I would be surprised if the operational side of things was losing money, more likely other areas of the company, especially with external borrowing/leasing. The statement was strange however, regarding trading difficulties.

 

Fully owned golf clubs are struggling just now as well, but very few have borrowings that are likely to end up putting them in liquidation. They just reign in the costs on the courses themselves.

 

I'm nae a golfer, but I imagine it would be apparent that some courses aren't looking as good or being managed as well as they were 4-5 years ago.

Link to comment
fatshaft Newbie

fatshaft

Posted
Posted

Fully owned golf clubs are struggling just now as well, but very few have borrowings that are likely to end up putting them in liquidation. They just reign in the costs on the courses themselves.

 

I'm nae a golfer, but I imagine it would be apparent that some courses aren't looking as good or being managed as well as they were 4-5 years ago.

Huntly, and to a lesser extent Turriff being cases in point. Insch also been struggling, and Aboyne made a big loss two years ago, as did Ballater, though they are apparently a wealthy club anyway so could stand it.

 

Inchmarlo won't be the last, there's an over-supply at present, yet waiting lists at the likes of Newmacher. Others will follow, but not that many in the NE cos of our great golfing traditions, other parts of the country, especially guffland won;t be so lucky.

 

Inchmarlo's problem was they sold out to a guy with no interest in golf, he just wanted his planning permission for more hooses, plus they were paying ridiculous moeny to the likes of their Course Manager

Link to comment
Redstar Rookie

Redstar

Posted
Posted

Serious question FS...do you think the complete wankery and stuffy old mannie image of golf has contributed to the death of this fine old course...I used to play in my youth until one of my mates invited me to play the Deeside Course on a Tuesday afternoon...all was going well until a complete prick had a go while we were teeing off at the 4th...you're not properly attired to play here was what the old knobber said...slacks and proper footwear are required...I was in jeans and trainers...told the old cu*t to lighten up but he didn't back down...asked my mate for his name as he was going to report him to the Chairman...I'd had enough and told him to fu*k off and get a life...he did fu*k off and as he did I drove the ball at him ...narrowly missing him...he wasn't happy and neither was my mate...long story short I never played again...I understand rules need to be followed but getting bent out of shape because of what someone is wearing is a bit 1950's...these old courses should be welcoming youth not looking for reasons to exclude them...to that end...I have no sympathy for these courses they have brought this on themselves

Link to comment
fatshaft Newbie

fatshaft

Posted
Posted

Serious question FS...do you think the complete wankery and stuffy old mannie image of golf has contributed to the death of this fine old course...I used to play in my youth until one of my mates invited me to play the Deeside Course on a Tuesday afternoon...all was going well until a complete prick had a go while we were teeing off at the 4th...you're not properly attired to play here was what the old knobber said...slacks and proper footwear are required...I was in jeans and trainers...told the old cu*t to lighten up but he didn't back down...asked my mate for his name as he was going to report him to the Chairman...I'd had enough and told him to fu*k off and get a life...he did fu*k off and as he did I drove the ball at him ...narrowly missing him...he wasn't happy and neither was my mate...long story short I never played again...I understand rules need to be followed but getting bent out of shape because of what someone is wearing is a bit 1950's...these old courses should be welcoming youth not looking for reasons to exclude them...to that end...I have no sympathy for these courses they have brought this on themselves

Nope, don't think it's got the slightest thing to do with it. You're talking exceptions like Deeside & Royal Aberdeen, where that attitude still exists, but then they can enforce that becasue they have huge waiting lists. The courses that are struggling, like Huntly, Insch and Turriff for example, all have extremely relaxed dress codes, and inchmarlo isn;t even a members club.

 

most courses, especially in the north-east are not like that at all, but even if they were, the young loons love to look like pros, so there's no issue anyway, and the jeans wearing mob tend to stick to munis in any case, as you'd see on any visit to Hazelhead.

Link to comment
kylie-boy1903 Newbie

kylie-boy1903

Posted
Posted

used to work at inchmarlo as part of the green staff there about 6 years ago, courses were run poorly, poor machinery and poor man management, boosted my career 10 fold just by leaving, in saying that, at the time prior to the current owners, they did have ambition to be a busy course, had many corparate outings, competitions etc, this was due to the people high up being 'in the know' of the golf market compared to current owners that wanted to build a hotel and make money off having a resort instead of getting the place in order first. two friends of mine had just left the place about 2 weeks ago and very lucky to get out when they did and into other jobs

Link to comment
Redstar Rookie

Redstar

Posted
Posted

Nope, don't think it's got the slightest thing to do with it. You're talking exceptions like Deeside & Royal Aberdeen, where that attitude still exists, but then they can enforce that becasue they have huge waiting lists. The courses that are struggling, like Huntly, Insch and Turriff for example, all have extremely relaxed dress codes, and inchmarlo isn;t even a members club.

 

most courses, especially in the north-east are not like that at all, but even if they were, the young loons love to look like pros, so there's no issue anyway, and the jeans wearing mob tend to stick to munis in any case, as you'd see on any visit to Hazelhead.

Thanks for clearing that up...one more question old mate...do you think the thought of bumping into you or some other dreadful golf bore has been the driver(no pun intended) in the closure of the club

  • Downvote 3
Link to comment
fatshaft Newbie

fatshaft

Posted
Posted

Thanks for clearing that up...one more question old mate...do you think the thought of bumping into you or some other dreadful golf bore has been the driver(no pun intended) in the closure of the club

Nope, golf is a tremendous activity, and outwith the two clubs I mentioned before, played by genuine decent blokes. I'm always a bit suspicious - especially in the Aberdeenshire area - of minkers who don't play, it's the greatest game in the world, and we invented it, so I can only put it down to lack of any moral standards, which tend to be a requisite in golf, and which you singularly failed to display when invited onto a premier course. I would say, anyone displaying your tendencies is no loss to the game.

  • Upvote 2
  • Downvote 2
Link to comment
fatshaft Newbie

fatshaft

Posted
Posted

All sorted then ...in the same way as Football is a gentleman's game played by hooligans, and rugby is a hooligans' game played by gentlemen...golf appears to be a game for arseholes played by arseholes

 

all was going well until a complete prick had a go while we were teeing off at the 4th...you're not properly attired to play here was what the old knobber said...slacks and proper footwear are required...I was in jeans and trainers...told the old cu*t to lighten up but he didn't back down...asked my mate for his name as he was going to report him to the Chairman...I'd had enough and told him to fu*k off and get a life...he did fu*k off and as he did I drove the ball at him ...narrowly missing him...he wasn't happy and neither was my mate...long story short I never played again...

Nope, seems not any more :sheepdance:

Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...