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Moray Golf Club sees Covid-19 bounceback with 320 new members


By Chris Saunderson

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Moray Golf Club has seen a boom of over 320 new members join in the wake of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions easing.

The golf club, which is one of the oldest and most visited in the country, had steady membership numbers at the beginning of the year, and was investing in programmes to encourage more women and girls to take up the sport.

However, lockdown restrictions had a devastating effect on the club’s day-to-day activities and the future of the club looked bleak.

In the last months, however, it has attracted the 320 new members and counting. The club is also seeing the course become extremely popular with nearly double the number of people coming out to play on an average day than were before.

PGA professional Derek Ramsay on the course.
PGA professional Derek Ramsay on the course.

Derek Ramsay, PGA Professional at Moray, said: “When the country went into lockdown, we predicted that we would be out of money by July. However, things are even better now than usual, and it’s been amazing to see such a significant improvement in memberships – especially with young people.”

Moray Golf Club is home to two 18-hole courses, which has allowed the club to accommodate such a huge influx of members, both committed golf enthusiasts, and those who are brand new to the sport.

Ramsay continued: "We’re seeing many new members who had never even played, and certainly had never been members of any golf club before. We had to figure out a new method of scheduling tee times to make sure everyone got their time on the course.”

Throughout the lockdown, Moray Golf club was committed ensuring that all its furloughed staff - around 25 in total - were topped up to receive 100 per cent of their salaries. And, having managed to make it through the spring with absolutely no redundancies, the club employees were able to get back into business without skipping a beat.

Ramsay added: "We’re a very loyal and tight-knit community, so it’s been an absolute delight to see the pure joy in our members who are getting back to the sport, or who are finding their new passion.”

Karin Sharp, Scottish Golf's chief operating officer, said: “It has been without a doubt a trying time for everyone over the last few months, but we are delighted to see that with lockdown restrictions eased and golf courses very much being back open for play, that local clubs such as Moray Golf Club have been able to capitalise on golf being an early return sport and are seeing a surge in new members.”

For more information, visit: moraygolf.co.uk or www.scottishgolf.org


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