Golf in a bunker

Editorial, The Courier, 13 September 2002

A few years ago, golf was heading skywards as the great sport-and-health success story. Amid increasing wealth and leisure, went the idea, there was a big need for more golf courses. Dozens were built in Scotland. Farmers turned fallow fields into fairways faster than King Midas could turn his chattels into gold.

But now the green vision is wilting. True, great-name clubs and courses are thriving, with years-long waiting lists and bulging bank balances. But some other golfing facilities, opened in the halcyon years amid high expectations, now face more red ink than green fees.

Some hope to survive by trimming costs and by better marketing. But for others the outlook is rough.