Higher fees see huge drop in customers at Shrewsbury golf course
Increased green fees which were "forced" on to managers of Shrewsbury's municipal golf course led to a huge drop in customers, it has been claimed. Increased green fees which were "forced" on to managers of Shrewsbury's municipal golf course led to a huge drop in customers, it has been claimed. According to a letter seen by the Shropshire Star staff at Meole Brace Golf Club voiced their concerns claiming there had been a 32 per cent fall in attendance in the first six weeks of the new pricing structure which was introduced at the start of the year. For a six-week period in 2008 to 2009 when the average green fee was £8, income from the course was £29,790 with 3,724 rounds being played. But in the six weeks at the start of 2010 when green fees rose on average to £10.50 income dropped to £26,484 and the number of rounds fell to 2,522. This meant the club was losing 200 games a week.
Increased green fees which were "forced" on to managers of Shrewsbury's municipal golf course led to a huge drop in customers, it has been claimed.
According to a letter seen by the Shropshire Star staff at Meole Brace Golf Club voiced their concerns claiming there had been a 32 per cent fall in attendance in the first six weeks of the new pricing structure which was introduced at the start of the year.
For a six-week period in 2008 to 2009 when the average green fee was £8, income from the course was £29,790 with 3,724 rounds being played.
But in the six weeks at the start of 2010 when green fees rose on average to £10.50 income dropped to £26,484 and the number of rounds fell to 2,522. This meant the club was losing 200 games a week.
On Monday more than 150 people packed out a meeting at Shrewsbury's Guildhall to voice their anger over proposals to sell the course.
Residents were warned they face losing the course if they do not use it after it was revealed owners Shropshire Council had been offered a multi-million pound bid for the site.
Will Shakespeare, golf professional at Meole Brace Golf Club, said the club was a great entry level facility for getting youngsters involved in the game but in recent months the council had forced the club to put prices up leading to a fall in numbers.
But responding to claims prices had been put up so the council could claim the facility was no longer profitable, Paul Clark, principal facilities officer at Shropshire Council, said the course had never been profitable.
Mr Clark said: "As a golf course Meole Brace is performing better than any other in the Midlands area now. Extensive work has been done on the green. It was taken on by Shropshire Council 18 months ago.
"From 2008 to 2009 the course cost £58,000 to operate and from 2009 to 2010 it was £17,200.
"This year we are predicting it will cost £10,157 to operate.
"We were told leisure prices had to go up across the board. It was forced upon us because of the cuts to the council's budget.
"We're trying to make it into a sustainable golf club that everyone can enjoy."
By Emma Kasprzak
