Which would members prefer – to pay higher subscriptions, see the course occupied by more societies and visitors, or spend more time and money at the clubhouse? The Club needs your ideas. (Article from Club Newsletter, Spring 2006)

In the face of ever-increasing costs, this year's Captain, Gordon Musk, asked a new Committee member, Anthony Collett, to look into 'income generation' and set up a sub-committee to explore ways of squeezing income out of our prime assets, the course and clubhouse. Anthony is asking for your ideas. "It doesn't matter whether they have been submitted before and rejected – times are changing" he says. Anthony attends meetings of other sub-committees when they are discussing the subject.

John Dunt is chair of the Bar and Catering Sub-committee. His first target is Societies; fewer visited during 2005 than in previous years. "Members who work for organisations which have golf days or who belong to golfing societies are asked to bring them to Liphook." Larger societies could be accommodated, perhaps starting on both the 1st and 15th tees. John stresses how important it is that the Club presents a friendly face to visitors.

Anthony has his eye on the layout of the Dining Room and Lounge Bar. "To encourage people to use the dining room more," he says, "we need to make it more visible".
John agrees: "We will have some tables laid every day in the dining room to encourage people to use the dining room." In an informal survey last year, younger members said that they find the lounge bar inhibiting to social drinking – they would like to see more open space among the tables. Both John and Anthony feel that the two rooms should be combined and made to feel more relaxed.The Bar and Catering sub committee is reviewing the snack menu, and prices. The new menus will be displayed more prominently.

Two events had to be cancelled recently through lack of support – the Annual Dinner at which Michael Mates MP was due to speak, and the New Year's Eve Dinner and Dance. "The two musical evenings were booked solid" said John "but if you look at the people who come, they are pretty much the same 60 members. We have to reach other sections of the membership." Again the Committee needs ideas as to the kinds of events which would attract new faces.

Like most traditional golf clubs, Liphook faces two worrying trends – on the one hand, the ever-increasing cost of running a private members' club, on the other, diminishing use of the facilities on offer. "Most members are conservative with a small 'c'" says John. "They won't be happy to see a large society occupying the tee slots or to see the seclusion of dining room and bar being broken up."  

Unless we all dig much deeper each year to pay larger subscriptions, the options are clear. Either the clubhouse is used more by the membership, or we have to attract outsiders to make use of the marvellous facilities on offer.  Anthony Collett would like to hear your views and ideas.

/-- Liphook Archive Information --/
#Medium:Document#
#Location:Website#
#Date Of Event:25 Mar 2006#
#Date Item Created:#
#Author:Michael Blakstad#
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