55-year-old man ‘sacked for being too old’ 8
A 55-year-old man who was sacked, for what he claims as being too old, by a golf club he worked at, has been awarded more than £50,000 by an employment tribunal.
This man has become the first ever deaf-before-he-could-speak person to be named captain of a British golf club 11
Ellesmere Port Golf Club in Cheshire’s has appointed a pre-lingual deaf person to be its captain – the first time this has happened in British history.
This golf club has done something amazing for local wildlife 4
Boston West Golf Club in Lincolnshire has won two conservation awards in the last year for creating a ‘mini nature reserve’.
Golf sees global boom in female participation… with one exception 7
The game of golf is seeing a boom in the number of women playing it around the world – with the one notable exception being the UK.
Golf’s ‘elitist’ image to be challenged 6
Two organisations that are involved in preparing the Open Championship this year are putting together a project to tackle the public’s perception of golf as ‘elitist’.
‘How to grow golf in the UK’ report is published 3
A new study that aims to help golf clubs and courses retain, attract and grow their customer base has been published.
Why would someone join a golf club? 8
A new survey has revealed that a welcoming atmosphere is the number one reason why somebody relatively new to golf will join a golf club. But what is a ‘welcoming atmosphere’?
Full extent of flooding damage revealed 2
The full extent of the damage and the recovery of the flooding that devastated several golf courses throughout the British Isles this winter is now beginning to emerge.
Golf ‘desperately needs to change its image’ 6
A golf conference on participation has concluded that the game urgently needs to change its image – as a new survey finds that infrequent golfers are deserting golf and not being replaced.
American course goes ‘ball-less’ 5
A golf course in the USA has become the first club in the world to go ‘ball-less’ – golfers play usual rounds on its course but hit a virtual ball rather than a physical one.
EGP loses £500,000 of public funding 9
The England Golf Partnership is to lose £500,000 of public funding because not enough people aged 26 and over have taken up golf in the last year.
Eco-warriors attack golf club 5
Eco-warriors have torn up four greens at Berkhamsted Golf Club in Hertfordshire because they are angry over the venue’s tree felling policy.
England Golf joins anti wind turbines campaign 10
England Golf has thrown its support behind Shrewsbury Golf Club’s opposition to two wind turbines being built nearby, saying they have a negative effect on golfers and golf clubs.
Golfers set to fail if they sue clubs over VAT 2
Golfers are unlikely to be successful if they take action against golf clubs for not paying them back the overpaid VAT they paid, one of the UK’s leading tax experts has said.
The golf courses that could fall into the sea 10
As both Montrose Golf Links and Caldy Golf Club bring in measures to deal with coastal erosion, we look at some of the UK golf courses that are in danger of falling into the sea.
Manager of the Year finalist: James Washington 1
James lives at Bradford Golf Club – which means he has had knocks on his door at every hour from members – usually needing access to possessions.
£20m family centre to open in Derbyshire 4
A £20m new golf course aimed at families is set to open in Derbyshire in less than a year’s time.
Golf club burglars jailed after GCM appeal 4
Two burglars who stole more than £750,000-worth of equipment from the lockers of more than 60 golf clubs in 17 counties have been jailed for a total of eight years.
The R&A ‘likely to end men-only award’ 4
The R&A will decide shortly on whether it will continue awarding Open Championships to be hosted by men-only golf clubs, after criticism from a key sponsor.
One golf club closes every two days in USA 9
A golf club is closing down in the USA at a rate of approximately one every two days, according to new data.
UK’s most exclusive golf club wins legal row 12
A club that aims to be the most exclusive golf club in Britain has won a legal battle against St Andrews Links Trust to use the words ‘St Andrews’ as part of its name.
Local authorities relinquish more golf clubs 3
At least two more municipal golf clubs have been handed over or closed down by their local authorities since the start of this year.
Clubs urged to end bans on mobile phones 13
England Golf is calling on clubs to relax dress codes and restrictions on mobile phones, offer flexible membership options and make golf affordable to try in a bid to reverse economic problems.
Manager of the Year finalist: Trevor Atkinson 2
During one period of heavy snowfall at his home 40 miles away, the Filton Golf Club manager slept on a blow-up mattress in the office for three nights in a row.
Average golf club gave £7K to charity in 2013 3
UK golf clubs collectively gave more than £18 million to charities in 2013, with the average club donating more than £7,000 to good causes, according to a new survey.
Members vote to shut prestigious golf club 3
Members of Royal Norwich GC, one of the most prestigious golf clubs in the world, vote to close their course down and merge with another club seven miles away.
HMRC withdraws EU VAT appeal 19
HMRC withdraws its appeal against the ruling that private members’ clubs’ green fees must be VAT exempt. But will this lead to more negative headlines for golf?
