Irish golf clubs to receive €600K from R and A Covid-19 Support Fund
Cash-strapped Irish golf clubs who successfully applied for help will receive nearly €600,000 in financial support from the R&A Covid-19 Support Fund.
A total of €596,550 will be awarded to 110 small and medium-sized clubs— a success rate of 96 percent.
Mark Kennelly, CEO of Golf Ireland said: “While there are challenges ahead for golf, the funding supports made possible by The R&A will help those clubs most in need at this time.
“Clubs have demonstrated a need for this funding which will assist them in recruiting and retaining members while also ensuring appropriate safety procedures are in place at their facilities.”
Golf clubs, which were ordered to shut for six weeks on October 21 under Level 5 restrictions, have been under pressure since the game’s phased return in May.
With limited tee time capacity and loss of revenue from green fees, open competitions, shop sales or catering, many are in financial difficulty.
Clubs who were successful in their application will receive a grant, ranging in value, and have met specific criteria including the following:
The club is eligible for relief from income tax and corporation tax for clubs under the exemptions provided for Games/Sporting bodies in ROI and clubs registered under the Registration of Clubs Act in NI.
The club is member owned.
The club is in urgent need of The R&A funding in order continue to provide facilities for the normal playing of the game for their members and visitors.
The club has no entrance fee or an entrance fee of less than €1,500/£1,500.
The club’s membership income is lower than €600,000/£535,00 and/or green fee/society revenue is lower that €100,000/£90,000 as reported in the clubs 2019 financial statements.
The club does not provide a financial return to stakeholders/owners.
The club's subscriptions are paid up to date for 2020 to both the GUI & ILGU.
Clubs successful in their application for funding must commit to signing the Women in Golf Charter and create an implementation plan to achieve the gold standard within an agreed timeline. In addition clubs must be compliant in all safeguarding regulations and will receive a safeguarding audit.
Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at The R&A, said” “The pandemic is continuing to have an impact on the day-to-day operations of golf clubs and many of them have suffered loss of income due to circumstances not in their control.
“We have a responsibility to help protect golf from the effects of this crisis where we can and so we hope that our Covid-19 Support Fund will allow affiliated national associations to support clubs in dealing with the challenges of the pandemic and begin the process of recovery.”
