Club’s call to get out of debt hole

By Melissa Meehan
BEACONHILLS Golf Course committee is calling on those who oppose the sale of unused land to get the club out of spiralling debt to come up with a better idea.
The Gazette met with newly elected President of the golf club Alex McKay last week for a tour of the facility and to discuss the club’s plan for the future.
“We are $2.3 million dollars in debt,” Mr McKay said.
“Something needs to be done and at the moment, the only commercially viable option is to sell off the nine holes we are not using.
“That would clear the debt and allow us to go on as a club.”
But Mr McKay said he was not opposed to other ideas, especially from staunch opposition groups such as the Green Wedges Coalition which says it will not stand for development in the Green Wedge Zone.
“The truth is, back in the 1980s the club borrowed half a million dollars and haven’t been able to pay it back since,” Mr McKay said.
“The way I see it is that we have three things we must do to stay open and not become insolvent – the day we become insolvent is the day I shut this place down.”
The first, for the golf club to act like a retailer.
Mr McKay said that the club had already cut prices in some areas by half and has offered different types of membership.
“We have tried to take on any good ideas from anywhere else we have seen them, this includes from other clubs that have struggled in the past,” Mr McKay said.
“Revenue is up, it’s lower per head but at the moment we have more people through the course than have been for a long time.”
The second, to inspire members to take part in big projects.
“We refurbished the clubhouse eight weeks ago, the whole front of the building was renovated at no cost,” Mr McKay said.
He added: “$200,000 worth of labour was donated to the club house, something like that is beyond belief – but if we have the members helping to get the club back in the green it can only have a positive outcome.
“The better facilities we have – the more people will come.”
The third, clear the debt.
“We currently pay $500 a day in interest,” Mr McKay said.
“That’s the stark reality of our current position – even if I was able to bring that much through the door every day we still wouldn’t make a profit, or make a dent in the repayments on the actual debt.”
Mr McKay said he could see no option other than to sell the land to get the club out of debt, but was happy to meet with those who opposed the sale to come up with a solution that could suit both parties.
“They say there must be other solutions, so I say to them – give me a solution, give me something solid that is a commercially viable option for us and we will look into it,” he said.
Green Wedges Coalition coordinator Rosemary Weston and spokeswoman Rosalie Counsel said they were more than pleased to meet with the golf club to discuss further options in a round table discussion.
“There was a suggestion that we would meet outside the general store but we saw that as the gold club having no intention to take on any alternate ideas we may bring up,” Ms Counsel said. “But we are more than pleased to meet with them and, hopefully, find a solution that suits both parties,” Ms Weston said.
The Green Wedges Coalition has put forward a solution to the problem that would see the club clear their debt, and keep the golf course intact.
“Why can’t they hand over the land to the council on condition that the council clear their debts and retain the land as a golf course?” Ms Weston said.
“It has happened in other areas like Kingston and it allowed for the green wedge to be saved – which is our main problem.”
“But all can be discussed with them if they are happy to meet with us; we are just waiting for an invitation.”