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PRESS RELEASE
SGU AND NGA FACE THE CHALLENGES OF THE FUTURE
A new raft of measures to further promote the game of golf in Scotland
is to be undertaken by the Scottish Golf Union ("SGU"), it has
been announced.
The proposals come as the SGU and the National Golf Academy ("NGA")
at Drumoig in Fife unveil their accounts for the year 2001/2002, and confirm
the full repayment of the £1m debt as proposed last year.
This has been achieved as a result of the "one off" increase
in subscriptions to £10 for golfers in 2002. The SGU has confirmed
the forecast reduction in the per capita subscription to £6 in 2003.
The NGA’s operating deficit in 2001/02 was £400k (2000/01:
£300k) including a number of non-recurring costs.
The NGA’s Directors have reviewed the value placed on the heritable
value of the Drumoig facility in the company’s accounts. Given the
specialist nature of the building and the complexities of the lease, the
directors have written down the book value of these assets to £100k.
This is prudent and the Directors believe it presents a more balanced
and understandable presentation of the SGU and NGA finances. A full review
of the trading and cost base of the SGU and SNGC was undertaken last summer
and resulted in the fundamental changes in both organisations that were
announced and implemented at that time. Operating costs at the SGU and
NGA have been in line with current year’s budgets, with both organisations
focusing on their core operations.
(m/f)
In line with this, the NGA is playing a key role in the SGU’s objective
to make golf accessible to all. As part of the drive to increase the number
of youngsters playing golf, a further two and a half thousand children
have received coaching through a range of packages at the NGA. The specialist
coaching provided by the national coaches at the NGA will be further enhanced
over the coming months with the arrival of two additional coaches and
the Academy’s investment in the latest technologically advanced computer
coaching system, V1.
A new commercial manager, working in both the NGA and SGU will be appointed
in the New Year, to strengthen existing business partnerships and develop
new ones.
Hamish Grey, Chief Executive of Scottish Golf Limited said, "We have
come a long way in securing the future of the National Golf Academy and
developing its potential for the betterment of the game. Much hard work
remains to be done, however the changes undertaken during 2002 augur well
for the future."
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