Cash-hit centre suffers fresh blow

The Courier, 29 August 2002

The troubled Scottish National Golf Centre suffered a further blow yesterday when it was revealed that managing director Neal Simpson has resigned.

News of Simpson’s departure - he is taking up a post in England - was announced at the same time as a series of measures were introduced in a further effort to improve the financial state of the Drumoig-based facility.

A review of the SNGC by an executive board recently appointed to look after the affairs of the Scottish Golf Union found that the annual shortfall of the Fife centre would continue to increase unless immediate action was taken.

The extent of the cost-cutting measures will be revealed in a few weeks after a consultation period involving all members of staff.

Although golf teaching and practice will remain the chief focus of the SNGC, the centre is looking at ways of reducing its commitment to non-golf related activities.

Hamish Grey, the chief executive of the SGU, said, “The ongoing cost of the national golf centre means that it is not comfortably sustainable in its present state.”

Since opening amid great celebration three years ago, the SNGC has been dogged with financial problems and in January 2000 it was announced that the centre was £1 million in debt.

An increase this year in the subscription rates paid by club members to the SGU helped to manage the debt in the short-term but, as an on-going concern, the SNGC remains a considerable financial burden.