{"id":1146193,"date":"2026-08-13T12:39:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T12:39:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1146193\/"},"modified":"2026-08-13T12:39:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T12:39:16","slug":"glen-golf-club-members-want-full-facts-on-proposed-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1146193\/","title":{"rendered":"Glen Golf Club members want ‘full facts’ on proposed deal"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n The newly formed \u2018Save The Glen\u2019 campaign group is urging fellow golf club members to \u201cask questions\u201d about plans for The Ancient Links Golf Company (TALGC) to take over the day-to-day running of their club.<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\n The deal would see the private firm invest between \u00a38 million and \u00a310 million in the course, clubhouse and facilities and grow visitor income through higher visitor green fees and an increase in annual visitors from about 7,000 to around 10,000.\n<\/p>\n

\n Members would retain playing rights through a Golf Access Rights Agreement, that could not be changed without their consent, and fee increases would be capped at \u00a340 for the first five years; existing members, meanwhile, would become \u2018founding members\u2019 and enjoy protected tee times.\n<\/p>\n

\n TALGC was established last year with the aim of working with historic Scottish links courses to help protect and enhance clubs for future generations \u2013 it says the investment would create a \u201cchampionship standard\u201d venue.\n<\/p>\n

\n It has already partnered with Scotscraig Golfing Club in Tayport and Forfar Golf Club in Angus.\n<\/p>\n

\n However, the newly formed Save The Glen group believes the proposed arrangement could \u201cfundamentally take away the sense of community from the club\u201d and is calling for members to be given more information on the club\u2019s finances before deciding whether to approve the deal.\n<\/p>\n

\n Alasdair Kerr and Alan Nisbet, two former club captains who have been members for more than 20 years, are behind the campaign group, which is calling for members to be given more information on the club before deciding whether to approve the deal.\n<\/p>\n

\n Alasdair said: \u201cThe way the proposal has been presented seems like a one-way street. TALGC have been given an open forum but there doesn\u2019t seem much room for a counter-argument to be given.\n<\/p>\n

\n \u201cCommunity importance is central to the club and, if that changes, it would just send that all away.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n While TALGC has proposed a major refurbishment of the clubhouse as part of its investment package, Save The Glen says the makeover would take away from the building\u2019s important role as an events venue used by employers, community groups and charities.\n<\/p>\n

\n These include the Abbey Church, Leuchie, North Berwick Air Cadets, the Stroke Club and the RNLI.\n<\/p>\n

\n Alan said: \u201cThe management and TALGC say a constitution will come in place under the 125-year lease, which will be agreed by members, but, in reality, what is to stop a new owner from playing hardball in the future?\n<\/p>\n

\n \u201cAs members, we are custodians of the club, so we have to think about it like that \u2013 what do we want to pass on to future generations?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n TALGC has engaged with the management committee and members at a series of meetings.\n<\/p>\n

\n However, the captains say \u201cnowhere have we been given the full facts and figures\u201d.\n<\/p>\n

\n The group says it is not opposed to investment at the club, but believes members should be able to consider the full financial picture and alternatives before deciding whether to support the deal.\n<\/p>\n

\n Alasdair said: \u201cWe realise everything isn\u2019t perfect, but The Glen is a significant asset to North Berwick and beyond. We feel there is a record number of members and income coming through, and we are financially healthy.\n<\/p>\n

\n \u201cThere has already been progress on improving the course and we want to enhance services in a modest way that is respectful to its history.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n A vote on whether to accept the proposed deal was planned for September but it is understood that this will be delayed.\n<\/p>\n

\n The Courier has asked The Glen Golf Club for a comment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The newly formed \u2018Save The Glen\u2019 campaign group is urging fellow golf club members to \u201cask questions\u201d about…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1146194,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[4106],"tags":[2826,79,16,15],"class_list":["post-1146193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-golf","tag-golf","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/117088247399531878","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1146193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1146193"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1146193\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1146194"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1146193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1146193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1146193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}