Scottish Golf proposing to raise its affiliation fee by more than 20 per cent

Bid to impose £3 increase to levy paid by club golfers set to be on table at next month’s AGM

Scottish Golf is proposing that the affiliation fee paid by club golfers is raised by £3 at next month’s annual general meeting.

The bid to increase the levy by more than 20 per cent has been shared with member clubs by CEO Robbie Clyde in a fortnightly newsletter.

A proposal to raise the affiliation fee from £14.50 to £15.75 had been put on the table for last year’s agm. But, after taking on board feedback from Area and Counties, a decision on that was delayed.

Scottish Golf CEO Robbie Clyde has informed member clubs of a proposal to raise the levy by more than 20 per cent. Picture: Scottish Golf.

That has now been dropped, with a new proposed fee of £17.50 now being proposed by the governing body’s board at the agm.

In the newsletter, Clyde said: “From the Regional Forums held in January and the subsequent direct meetings with individual clubs, Areas and Counties, we have heard there is positive support for our plans to recruit regional development managers across Scotland to increase our investment and focus on the growth of women’s and girls’ participation levels, as well as provide more direct support to performance development at a regional level,

“You have clearly told us that you understand the importance of all this work to strengthen our clubs, bring more people into club membership and support these key pillars of our national golf strategy.

“As such, we have taken your positive feedback to the SGL board, who have recommended that an affiliation fee increase of £3 is proposed at the May AGM.”

Clyde, who took over the reins last year after Fraser Thornton had filled in as interim CEO, added: “Building on the accountability and transparency which you have heard from me in recent months, over the next few weeks I will providing more detail on the background and finances to this recommended increase, to ensure that by the time of the AGM, you will have all the details and information you require to make an informed decision to support this proposal.”

Meanwhile, Martin Gilbert is seeking re-election for a second term as Scottish Golf Chair along with the appointment of four new board members.