Drops in memberships at courses across the country have become all too familiar in these tight economic times, but Fraser has found that Bedale Golf Club is blossoming at just the right time Paul Fraser.

Published: June 27, 2009

WHILE the top of the game is awash with huge prizemoney for players such as Graeme Storm and Robert Dinwiddie on the European Tour, golf's grassroots are in danger of being washed away, with recent rainy summers leading to a decline in those paying to play.

However, after a period when the 6,000 members of the British & International Golf Greenkeepers' Association showed signs of buckling under awful weather and the financial crisis, early shoots of recovery have been spotted in North Yorkshire.

There is a 500-strong membership at Bedale Golf Club, down by around 40 in the last year, but the number of social golfers booking tee times has gone up in recent months.

"Last year we had to close the course 33 times, " said treasurer Howard Dawson, whose wife, Marilyn, is the ladies' captain. "It was extremely depressing conditions and the closing of the course was out of our control.

"In that sense, given the way the weather has improved, so far this year we have actually had more through the door. We did have a bad year but things are better at this stage.

"Throughout Yorkshire there has been a drop of around 5,000 in memberships over a three year period - that's a lot of people and a lot of money. Durham Union also had a substantial hit and, on the whole, it's cheaper to play in that area."

During the last 12 months, the recorded membership figure from the 192 clubs in the Yorkshire Union has dropped from 71,000 to 68,000.

"It has been difficult because during hard times financially, people are reluctant to pay between £500 and £1,200 fees, they just tend to pay and play, " said secretary of the Yorkshire Union, Keith Dowswell.

"Things are being done to improve the situation, with golfers now being offered discounted rates and fees.

"But another problem which has occurred is that in the last 15 years there have been 50 new clubs built in our area alone."

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YORKSHIRE PRIDE: Bedale captain Mark Edmondson, treasurer Howard Dawson and past president John Walker

It is true that the Durham Union have had, relatively speaking, a similar fall.

"There has been a five per cent reduction on average across the country in memberships and we are no different, " said treasurer of the Durham Union, Les Inskip.

"We are still waiting for figures from two clubs, but when they come in we are expecting the number of members from our 44 clubs to have gone down from 21,845 to 20,845."

Even casual golfers have tended to stay at home rather than battle the rain-sodden greens across the country, and that was the experience at Bedale.

But with optimism high and course manager Kevin Scarce claiming an improvement from this time last year, Bedale are looking to go from strength to strength.

The Yorkshire Union Inter District Teams event on September 13 was awarded to the parklands course on Leyburn Road earlier this year, perceived as an indication that 2009 would be a far better year for the club.

To term a phrase from former club captain John Walker, a past president of Harrogate Union, "there are now golf balls all over the bloody course" and long may it continue.

Walker, an "able seaman" during the Second World War, recently turned 84 and had the pleasure of showing off the glorious course on a sunbaked summer's day.

There was no sign of leaden skies or soggy fairways, just a healthy number of golfers enjoying a round and an abundance of pride oozing from its members.

Established in 1894, Bedale is a club steeped in history. A report in the Darlington & Stockton Times at the turn of the 20th century said that Henry Monson BeresfordPierse would tee off from the front of his lawn.

The Beresford-Pierses, with Sir Henry Grant currently occupying Bedale Hall, are still the landlords of most of the course, having been receptive to members returning in 1967 from a spell at Firby Road.

The Northern Echo:
OPTIMISM: Course manager Kevin Scarce

Since that return Bedale has been boosted by the purchase of additional land from the Lancasters, renowned farmers in the area, for £90,000, allowing the 30acre development of numerous new holes to a Hawtree design.

To the naked eye you wouldn't know it, but Bedale is split into three parts. Two are still rented from Sir Henry, while the other is owned by the club and boasts the signature hole, the 13th.

Appropriately named The Marshes, where opening drives regularly end up in the dried out pond on the right, the walk towards the green is alongside a farmer's field, where sheep and cows graze lazily, making you feel relaxed however you are playing.

The peacefulness, wellmaintained fairways and perfect greens leave you in no doubt why Bedale was named the sixth best course in Yorkshire by Golf Monthly.

"I was born in Northallerton, played at Masham, Harrogate and Catterick, but joined here 30 years ago because, when I played it, I just felt Bedale was the best in the area, " said club captain Mark Edmondson.

"It's a lovely, warm club to be a part of, with 18 members making up the committee, with dedicated volunteers and, most of all, a terrific course. We are proud of what we have here and we want more people to come and see why."

Golf may be deemed a luxury in hard times, but this parkland course offers plenty of reasons why a round of golf should never disappear from the radar.

FACT FILE

BEDALE Golf Club are running a special offer of a half-year membership for £299, while there is also the option of a £589 fullmembership scheme that allows you to pay by ten monthly direct debits.

As well as hosting the Yorkshire Union Inter District Teams on Sunday, September 13, teams are also being invited to take part in the AMAM, sponsored by Batchelors of Ripon, on Monday, July 27.

It is an open four-man event, with two scores counting, and costs £50 a team.

Anyone interested, contact Bedale GC on 01677 422451.