Exclusive:Warning fired over 'pressures' facing many historic Scottish golf clubs

The Ancient Links Golf Company has already taken over the running of both Scotscraig and Forfar, with hopes high of Montrose Golf Links being added to its portfolio on the strength of both councillors and golfers being “very supportive” of that proposal.

In contrast, the group’s attempt to take on the management of the Glen is being strongly opposed by a group of members calling themselves the ‘Friends of the Glen’ and campaigning under the banner ‘Save the Glen.

It is being claimed that the proposal would “fundamentally change the governance” of the private members’ club, which operates the East Lothian course on land owned by East Lothian Council, and place a “valued community asset under long-term private commercial control”.

A Special General Meeting will be held next Wednesday, following a failed bid by the ‘Friends of the Glen’ to get sufficient support for a no-confidence vote in the Management Committee coming up short with the 680-strong membership at a previous Special General Meeting.

Speaking exclusively to The Scotsman about their ambitions and the wider Scottish golf industry, two of the founders and executive directors of the Ancient Golf Links Company, Archie Paton and Adair Simpson, touched on the Glen, which is popular with both members and visitors.

“We’re not really ones to speak to the press because it’s all about the venues for us,” said Paton, a Fife-based sports consultancy expert who helped broker Ron Gordon’s takeover of Hibs in 2019. “We very much see ourselves in the background. But it feels like Jonathan Brown, the general manager, and the committee at the Glen have been put under undue pressure due to misinformation in the press more than anything else.

“We are still relatively early in the process. We approached the club with the concept of what we are doing and explained that our whole construct has been set up to protect historic community clubs while bringing investment in and taking on operational responsibility. So we approached them with that and gave a very outline proposal based on our normal approach ie golf access rights agreement, protecting the members’ times, their prices, protecting the course and our standard operator’s lease.

“They took that out to the members. They have a two-stage process. They are looking for a simple majority to give them members’ approval just to progress into further discussions without any commitment from either side at the moment. We still have quite a bit of due diligence to do on the venue and likewise they have engaged legal counsel and are just looking for the members’ approval before they progress further into it.

“Then, if they do wish as a membership to progress to further negotiations, we will then look to present a final proposal, but we are quite a bit away from that at the moment.”

Scotscraig, one of Scotland’s most-historic clubs, is flourishing again after a spell when it was lacking investment through its partnership with the Ancient Golf Links Company while it also seems as though Forfar members are happy with the new partnership there. Talks also took place with Peterhead, though it seems unlikely that will be able to progress, while conversations are ongoing with Southerness.

“The reality is that what we are proposing for the Glen is no different from Scotscraig, it is no different from Forfar and it is no different from what we have proposed at Montrose with the core fundamentals,” said Simpson, a former deputy CEO and finance director at Carnoustie Golf Links.

“Membership access is protected long term, membership price is protected long term. The club retains control over the standards and condition of the golf course, we are held accountable for delivering against those agreed standards, and they control any material variations to the golf course. We truly believe those are the four fundamental pillars as to what a membership wants and we believe those are the four fundamental pillars to sustainable golf, with the fifth one being large scale investment.

‘We are not holding a gun to anyone’s head’

“What perhaps became clear through the process is that there wasn’t necessarily an understanding across the membership of some of the longer-term financial, operational and compliance challenges facing golf.

“The one thing we have made very clear is that we are not holding a gun to anyone’s head. We truly believe we are doing the best thing for Scottish golf. Across Scottish golf, many historic member clubs are facing increasing operational, financial and infrastructure pressures. We believe there need to be new models that allow clubs to access long-term investment and management resource, while protecting their heritage, membership and community role.”

A total of 431 members voted in the recent no-confidence ballot, with 116 voting in favour and 299 voting against. A Save the Glen spokesperson said: “We accept the result of the vote. That is democracy and we respect it. But democracy is not simply about putting a piece of paper in a ballot box. It is also about allowing people to hear the arguments, ask questions and make an informed decision.

“At the last Special General Meeting, many members felt they were denied that opportunity. The Management Committee decided that the debate had effectively already taken place through information circulated before the meeting. Many members clearly disagreed.

“The Glen is too important to its members and to North Berwick for its future to be determined without a proper, open and informed debate. We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for a fair opportunity to put an alternative case to the membership.

“The 116 members who voted for the motion demonstrate that there is significant concern within the Club. The 249 members who did not vote should also have the opportunity to consider all sides of the argument. The debate about the future of the Glen must not be closed.”