Moray Golf Club strikes back against Coronavirus
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ONE golf club in Moray has teed up a boost to its income with a proactive membership drive.
Moray Golf Club in Lossiemouth has attracted around 100 new members in the last few weeks.
New members have been pulled in with the offer of a discounted membership until the end of the year and the draw of having two courses to choose from – meaning easier access to tee times as people rush back to the game after 10 weeks in lockdown.
Secretary Stevie Grant says the fresh income from new members will go a little way to offsetting losses through the clubhouse and restaurant being closed and the loss of fees from visiting golfers.
The club has also secured a £25,000 bounceback grant from the Scottish Government’s leisure and tourism hardship fund, with the help of Moray Speyside Tourism.
“We promoted a membership campaign through social media. It is phenomenal what we have achieved in such a short space of time,” said Grant.
He admits there is still a long road to recovery, with a number of the 24 permanent staff still furloughed.
However, the first step was welcoming members back onto the two links courses from last Friday.
“May and June are traditionally two of our biggest months and we have also had to cancel our Moray Open,” he added.
Tee times were fully booked last weekend as the temperature soared and players went out in no more than two balls to allow for better social distancing.
The secretary hopes this might go up to three balls “hopefully soon”.
The club has had to look at other revenue streams, such as selling Moray GC labelled whisky which pulled in £6000. A donation box on the first tee, suggested by a member, also raised around £700 on the first day alone. Other donations from members have raised around £4000.
Go to www.moraygolf.co.uk for membership information.
