Elgin Golf Club 'in robust financial health' as recovery continues from Covid-19
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
ELGIN Golf Club is reporting a surge in membership to aid their recovery from the Covid shutdown.
Last year saw the Hardhillock club record 10,000 additional rounds of golf in comparison to the previous year, as well as making improvements to its infrastructure.
Manager John Duguid said the pandemic had a huge impact on the club’s day-to-day operations but actions taken since have created a healthy financial position.
Covid protocols created challenges as all rounds of golf had to be pre-booked before play, leading to strain on the tee time booking system.
However, the unprecedented demand for golf was eagerly embraced by the club.
“Over the year we have seen an increased demand for golf – echoed across the sector – as it has been one of the few activities remaining accessible,” Duguid said.
“We have seen a rise in gross membership of around 200. So, it was important that we made appropriate and sustainable infrastructure improvements that would see the club ready to serve our burgeoning membership as we exit the Covid restrictions and for many years to come.”
“With all the uncertainty we, as a nation, have experienced over the last 15 months it is reassuring to report that the club is in robust financial health, has growing membership and has safeguarded the future of the clubhouse.”
In November 2019, the club was being investigated by police over “many irregularities” in their finances, caused by unexplained losses over the previous year, putting Elgin Golf Club in a grim position which it has steadily recovered from.
Duguid outlined new projects undertaken at the club, saying: “We took the time during the first lockdown, in March 2020, to evaluate our operating model, which in-turn allowed us to implement multiple new processes to increase the member experience.”
The club was able to implement a £50,000 infrastructure improvement programme, thanks to a fundraising effort by club members and private bank finance.
Two flat roofs at the club had reached the end of their expected life period and over the last few years had become increasingly unreliable.
At the cost of £25,000, a local contractor was procured to remove the previous materials, move internal drain systems to an external system as well as putting down new materials with improved insulation.
The roof is expected to last a further 25 years and was completed on budget but with some delays due to the adverse weather at the end of April and May.
Faults in the club's sewage waste system, which pumps water away from the clubhouse and the adjoining cottage, had began to appear due to its age.
A specialist company came in to refurbish one of the two pumps, with the remaining pump and the control panel requiring replacement.
An upgrade to Elgin GC's heating and hot water system is needed at an estimated £15,000 cost, with the club looking at more energy efficient solutions for the future.
And the club's IT system was no longer fit for purpose, leading to a successful application to the Digital Boost Grant, that covered 75% of the costs of an IT project.
This meant £12k of new hardware and IT capabilities being installed at a mere £3,000 cost to the club.
The upgrade included new hardware, shared network and cloud storage, remote access capability, improved wi-fi capacity, club tablets for improving portable capabilities and a new till system for their food and beverage system.
Plans are also in place to upgrade greenkeeping equipment, while the club says their infrastructure projects are being funded via private bank finance and will be repaid from operating revenue over the next six years.
