Autumn Storms - Crisis Management ?

Every natural phenomena has an up-side as well as a down-side and the current weather pattern is no exception. The immediate effect of the autumn storms has been to raise the water table to such an extent that the watering of fairways, in order to sustain growth next summer, will be reduced to a minimum. The down-side is that apart from the obvious storm damage to property and trees, it has also caused flooding to significant areas of most golf courses in England and Wales. This, in many instances, has led to a complete shut down of courses for indefinite periods with the outcome that income from visitors, the bar and catering has dropped, and at a time when the subscriptions for the incoming year have already been set. This is likely to lead to a shortfall in revenue during 2001, which will inevitably have a knock-on effect on the industry in general.

In the immediate future it may be necessary to hold a number of fund raising functions to overcome any short-term deficiency, but ultimately, there is likely to be an inevitable hike in subscription levels, particularly if this weather pattern continues for a number of years.

We may also have to revert to carrying our golf-bags again in the winter months. Most courses have already banned electric trolleys and buggies during this very wet period and at many courses trolleys are banned altogether. The up-side of this may be that we will take less time to play a round of golf; that we learn to play with fewer clubs; and consequently that we may become more adept in our stoke-making !!