Ladies & Gentlemen,

Peach Leisure Ltd has some trouble. It has lost money yet again in 2009 and at unacceptable levels. As the owner, it comes down to me personally to dig deep into ever emptying pockets. We are not getting enough new members and too many existing ones are giving up, cannot afford the fees or just getting beyond walking 4 miles. The Craythorne Golf Club however, will survive, and that is all you as members, are worried about. As I see from your accounts, you continue to make money, you continue to make surplus each year. Well done, it must be a nice feeling.

The golf course condition in the past Club year has been variable but generally good. There are many outside factors which have certainly challenged the course management team. From a complete lack of rain and sun to snow, to deluge and extended frost....all of these climatic events have played havoc with our ability to present consistent quality throughout. As usual, there were few snipers with barbed comments but personally I largely dismiss them as the uninformed or the “head in the sand” brigade. I think we have coped well, especially with the extra demand of fiscal strictures placed upon us by the economic climate which has been engendered by the total lack of financial control by the Labour Government. It may not be apparent to all, but Peach Leisure operates in an arena of discretionary spend. We are the first to be hit by a recession, and the last to come out. It’s been 2 ½ years now and in my opinion we have at least another year to go yet. All this has meant that the work and financial load in terms of advertising, communication and incentives has increased dramatically for us through the year. My staff have tirelessly tried to increase the customer base. They have also tried manfully to give offers and incentives to members. Frankly, that has been ignored by the vast majority of members. Free events, at our cost, have been ignored consistently. Well, we have tried, and will continue to try, but we will not be going out of our way to help the members to make profits. We just cannot afford it.

A major stop on expenditure has been in place throughout 2009 and this continues. Necessary spending on the course is actioned and we will also be trying to move forward as much as possible. Next week sees the start of new work on the surrounds at the 4th and 13th greens. Yes, I’m back on the tools! We will be changing the sward cultivars on the greens to a more modern mix of varieties which continues to allow all year round play and should eradicate the patchy varietal grouping which we have at the moment. We are not looking to eradicate meadow grass, but there are drought resistant grasses which will suit our purpose better. Our Head Greenkeeper has been with us for nearly a year now and I expect him to deliver much more management on his own during the next 12 months. All of the machinery has been serviced and maintained. We have some training to undertake of new staff and we hope for a settled team. However, that can be difficult when a member of staff just walks out saying he has another job and doesn’t even give a day’s statutory notice. Especially galling when that person is also a Craythorne golf member who we helped in a time of his need. It does make one extremely cynical.

A fact that you might like to know. Your PGA professional costs every member £57.40 a year which is 13.76% of the membership revenue stream.

Last year I quoted the figure that Peach Leisure paid in tax in a year. It has increased and continues to be highly inflationary. I am reminded of the words in the Beatles song, Taxman. I shan’t do karaoke!! “If you drive car I’ll tax the street, if you try to sit, I’ll tax your seat, if you get too cold, I’ll tax your heat, if you take a walk, I’ll tax your feet...the taxman!!” and that was written 40 years ago!

I have painted a picture of doom and gloom and it is easy to think in isolation. The malaise of golf club membership is prevalent throughout the British Isles and I suspect that the market has changed forever. More people just want golf on demand. They are not "clubbable" people. They pay and play through the year. This will probably be the market sector that we must attract and, given that there are so many tee slots free at Craythorne, we should look to fill them. This does not detract from you as members as you will continue to have prime time tee slots, but we have to start to fill the course and attract revenue.

Can I take this opportunity to thank your hard working Committee members, and particularly last year’s Captains, who did a fine job in representing you. Roll on “King Wonky” and we certainly hope that you remain involved in the Club in the future. You’ve done the hard work, so now use the experience.

Finally, I will leave you with this thought. Craythorne will be 40 years old as a club in 2012, it is your club, and it for you, the membership, to see that the Club continues to thrive.