Tee to Green

South Ayrshire and indeed Ayrshire has made a significant contribution over many years to the growth and history of the game of golf in Scotland. We are recognised internationally as a world class destination for golfers thanks to the quality and quantity of both our public and private courses.

In recognition of this your council has agreed to the development of a strategy for golf in partnership with the Strategic Group for Golf development in South Ayrshire. We derive substantial economic benefit from having two British Open Championship courses within South Ayrshire, not just at the time when these events come but in the year's in-between thanks to the world wide publicity through news and television.

The R&A have confirmed their commitment to support your council in promoting this strategy focused on a more business like approach to the provision of golf in South Ayrshire. The strategy group will consist of representation from your council, the Scottish Golf Union, local municipal and private clubs, along with the R&A, tasked with developing a strategy for golf, including a fundamental review of the inter-dependability of municipal courses in South Ayrshire.

While our municipal courses have a reputation of being of a high standard in terms of their condition and challenge our ancillary services such as the municipal clubhouse at Troon requires significant improvement and investment. If we wish to keep existing golfers and attract new players we will have to offer a much more attractive experience in a club house that is fit for the 21st century.

Clearly we cannot do this on our own, hence the reason for partnership working not only with North & East Ayrshire Councils but with the private sector as well. Informal discussions have already taken place with the private sector that have not only recognised the potential which exists but have shown an interest in working in partnership with your council to help develop new and improved facilities and services.

Over the last few months I have been trying to prepare citizens for the consequences of the major reduction in the block grant from the UK Treasury to the Scottish Government. That in turn means a reduction in the allocation to all local Authorities, the consequence of that will mean that many things that citizens have taken for granted are being withdrawn.

Maintenance of private open spaces that your council have looked after now means a contract has to be drawn up with the owner or owners of the ground or it is just left to go back to nature. You can imagine the sense of anger and bewilderment of citizens when they find out not only do they own the nice open spaces within their estate but they are corporately responsible for paying for there upkeep.

Peter Convery